Risks of Cuts to mRNA Vaccine Development | Johns Hopkins | Bloomberg School of Public Health

Following decades of development, the United States’ first mRNA vaccines hit the market in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, saving millions of lives and allowing the nation to adeptly respond to the evolving virus.

But misinformation around mRNA has fueled dangerous anti-vaccine sentiments that threaten public health and national security. This month, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that the U.S. will pull $500 million in mRNA vaccine development funding, citing false claims about efficacy and safety.

In a Q&A adapted from the August 13 episode of Public Health On Call, Bill Moss, MD, MPH, executive director of the International Vaccine Access Center, delves into the misinformation surrounding mRNA vaccines, explains their potential to treat diseases like cancer and HIV, and warns of the dangers posed by funding cuts.