RFK Jr. shocks big pharma, yanks $500 million from mRNA vaccine projects, including for Flu and COVID

RFK Jr. cancels vaccine projects worth $500 million. On Tuesday, August 5, 2025, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced he is shutting down 22 vaccine projects. These projects were using mRNA technology, and were funded by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Projects were targeting major viruses. The cancelled vaccines were being developed to fight COVID-19, influenza (flu), and H5N1 bird flu. These viruses can cause serious illness, and the projects were meant to help prevent future outbreaks, according to the report by Associated Press.

RFK Jr. explains why he is stopping mRNA vaccines

RFK Jr. made the announcement in Alaska. Kennedy shared the news during a press conference in Anchorage, Alaska, standing beside Republican Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski. He posted a video explaining his decision. On his social media, Kennedy released a video where he criticized mRNA vaccines, saying they are “troubled” and fail when viruses mutate.


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He wants to replace mRNA with other vaccine types. Instead of mRNA, Kennedy said the U.S. will focus on creating vaccines using whole-virus methods and new platforms that he believes are safer and more durable, as stated in the report by Associated Press.

Big drug companies will lose money and research

Pfizer and Moderna are directly affected. Some of the biggest drug companies in the U.S., including Pfizer and Moderna, were working on the now-cancelled mRNA vaccine projects. These companies are major players in vaccine development.

This is part of Kennedy’s bigger anti-vaccine agenda. Since becoming health secretary, Kennedy has taken several controversial steps:

• Pulled back on promoting COVID-19 shots
  
• Fired the panel that gives vaccine advice to the government
  
• Stayed silent on promoting vaccines during a measles outbreak that's getting worse
  

The move has shocked health experts and Big Pharma. The sudden cancellation of such a large amount of vaccine funding has stunned the medical world and Big Pharma, who depend on government support for vaccine research and development, as mentioned in the report by Associated Press.

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FAQs

Q1. Why did RFK Jr. cancel $500 million in vaccine projects?
RFK Jr. said he canceled the mRNA vaccine projects because he believes they don’t work well when viruses change and are not safe enough.

Q2. Which companies are affected by RFK Jr.'s mRNA vaccine shutdown?
Pfizer and Moderna are directly affected, as they were working on the canceled government-funded mRNA vaccine projects.