Coverage dated August 4, 2025 to August 7, 2025

Fact focus: RFK Jr.'s reasons for cutting mRNA vaccine not supported by evidence

Headline from NBC New York, from the development of Aug 7, 2025

Newest development Aug 8, 2025 · 3 reportsRFK Jr. Justifies Cuts to mRNA Vaccine Projects With Falsehoods

Countless studies show that vaccinated individuals fare far better against COVID-19 infections than those who are unvaccinated

NBC New York's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Earlier updates in this story

Developments in this update

3 dated developments, oldest first, newest marked. Each is named by one outlet's own headline; open its reports to see every outlet that covered it.

  1. RFK Jr. pulls $500 million in funding for vaccine development

    Headline from ABC 11 Raleigh ·

  2. Names this update

    Fact focus: RFK Jr.'s reasons for cutting mRNA vaccine not supported by evidence

    Headline from NBC New York ·

  3. Newest

    RFK Jr. Justifies Cuts to mRNA Vaccine Projects With Falsehoods

    Headline from FactCheck.org ·

Read the reports

Reports & sources

77 articles, oldest first.

  1. NBC Los Angeles

    RFK Jr. pulls $500 million in funding for vaccine development (opens NBC Los Angeles)

    Published

    NBC Los Angeles's feed description

    The Department of Health and Human Services will cancel contracts and pull funding for some vaccines that are being developed to fight respiratory viruses like...

  2. Fox News

    RFK Jr cancels $500 million in mRNA research, HHS to prioritize 'safer' vaccine alternatives (opens Fox News)

    Published

    Fox News's feed description

    Trump admin's HHS cancels 22 mRNA vaccine contracts worth $500 million, with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. citing effectiveness concerns.

  3. Gizmodo

    RFK Jr. Yanks $500 Million From Critical mRNA Vaccine Research (opens Gizmodo)

    Published

    Gizmodo's feed description

    The cuts will affect 22 mRNA vaccine-related projects worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

  4. Health Care Finance News

    RFK Jr. terminates $500 million in funding for mRNA vaccine development (opens Health Care Finance News)

    Published

    Health Care Finance News's feed description

    Data show these vaccines fail to protect effectively against upper respiratory infections such as COVID-19 and flu, Kennedy says.

  5. NPR

    Public health experts dismayed by RFK Jr.'s defunding of mRNA vaccine research (opens NPR)

    Published

    NPR's feed description

    The Trump administration cancelled about $500 million for research into mRNA vaccines. The move slows progress in using the technology to prevent a future pandemic or treat disease, experts say.

  6. The Week

    RFK Jr. shuts down mRNA vaccine funding at agency (opens The Week)

    Published

    The Week's feed description

    The decision canceled or modified 22 projects, primarily for work on vaccines and therapeutics for respiratory viruses

  7. Truthout

    Medical Experts in Horror After RFK Jr. Pulls $500M in Vaccine Research Funding (opens Truthout)

    Published

    Truthout's feed description

    Experts warn the health secretary’s choice to cut funding for mRNA research is part of his larger anti-vaccine agenda.

  8. CBS News

    RFK Jr. halts $500 million for mRNA vaccine research (opens CBS News)

    Published

    CBS News's feed description

    HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says the federal government is calling off around $500 million worth of vaccine development projects that use mRNA technology.

  9. NBC News

    RFK Jr. cuts $500 million in mRNA vaccine contracts, dealing major blow to promising area of research (opens NBC News)

    Published

    NBC News's feed description

    The Trump administration is terminating 22 contracts focused on developing mRNA vaccines and winding down additional federal investments in mRNA technology, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

  10. WHDH Boston

    RFK Jr. pulls $500 million in funding for vaccine development - Boston News, Weather, Sports (opens WHDH Boston)

    Published

    WHDH Boston's feed description

    WASHINGTON (AP) — The Department of Health and Human Services will cancel contracts and pull funding for some vaccines that are being developed to fight

  11. Forbes

    RFK Jr. Cuts mRNA Vaccine Research, Defunding Emergency Preparedness (opens Forbes)

    Published

    Forbes's feed description

    Karikó and Weissman persisted in their mRNA research because they believed the platform held promise for vaccines that could trigger an immune response to fight diseases.

  12. PhillyVoice

    Technology advanced by Penn scientists led to COVID shots. Five years later, RFK Jr. is slashing mRNA vaccine research (opens PhillyVoice)

    Published

    PhillyVoice's feed description

    The Trump administration is canceling nearly $500 million in funding for 22 projects involving mRNA vaccine research. The technology, advanced by Penn scientists, formed the basis of the COVID-19 shots by Moderna and Pfizer.

  13. The Guardian

    RFK Jr’s health department to halt $500m in mRNA vaccine research (opens The Guardian)

    Published

    The Guardian's feed description

    Agency to end 22 federal contracts, questioning safety of technology credited with helping end Covid pandemic

  14. The New Republic

    RFK Jr.’s New Vaccine Cuts Are His Deadliest Yet, Experts Warn (opens The New Republic)

    Published

    The New Republic's feed description

    Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has canceled $500 million in vaccine development projects.

  15. Alaska Public Media

    RFK Jr., on visit to Anchorage, casts doubt on mRNA vaccines (opens Alaska Public Media)

    Published

    Alaska Public Media's feed description

    The Health secretary pulled the plug Tuesday on nearly $500 million for vaccine development. He spoke at ANTHC, a champion of vaccination as a pillar of community wellness.

  16. The Boston Globe

    What to know as RFK Jr. pulls $500m in funding for vaccine development (opens The Boston Globe)

    Published

    The Boston Globe's feed description

    Kennedy said he wants the health department to move away from mRNA vaccines and to start “investing in better solutions.” No details were provided on what those other technologies might be.

  17. 12News Now Beaumont

    RFK Jr. to cancel $500 million in funding for vaccine development projects (opens 12News Now Beaumont)

    Published

    12News Now Beaumont's feed description

    The 22 projects are led by major pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer and Moderna.

  18. New York Post

    Are mRNA vaccines safe and effective? What to know as RFK Jr. halts funding (opens New York Post)

    Published

    New York Post's feed description

    Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said this week that he's pulling the plug on nearly $500 million in funding for the development of mRNA vaccines. Here's how they work.

  19. Forbes

    RFK Jr. Cancels $500 Million In Funding For mRNA Vaccine Research (opens Forbes)

    Published

    Forbes's feed description

    The health secretary, who is a known vaccine skeptic, claimed that mRNA vaccines “fail to protect effectively against upper respiratory infections like COVID and flu.”

  20. The Boston Globe

    RFK Jr. pulled funding for vaccine development. Here’s what to know about mRNA vaccines. (opens The Boston Globe)

    Published

    The Boston Globe's feed description

    Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. canceled $500 million in government-funded research projects to create new mRNA vaccines against respiratory illnesses.

  21. NPR

    RFK Jr. pulls $500 million in funding for mRNA vaccine contracts (opens NPR)

    Published

    NPR's feed description

    The Department of Health and Human Services will cancel contracts and pull funding for some vaccines that are being developed to fight respiratory viruses like COVID-19 and the flu.

  22. WHDH Boston

    RFK Jr. pulls $500 million funding for vaccine development - Boston News, Weather, Sports (opens WHDH Boston)

    Published

    WHDH Boston's feed description

    WASHINGTON (AP) — The Department of Health and Human Services will cancel contracts and pull funding for some vaccines that are being developed to fight

  23. STAT

    Health secretary RFK Jr. shuts door on U.S. investment in mRNA vaccine research (opens STAT)

    Published

    STAT's feed description

    Technology used during Covid pandemic long criticized by anti-vaxxers despite extensive safety data. Kennedy says he's "investing in better solutions."

  24. Minneapolis Star Tribune

    RFK Jr. announces end to some mRNA contracts, including for flu and COVID (opens Minneapolis Star Tribune)

    Published

    Minneapolis Star Tribune's feed description

    The targeting of the vaccine technology once considered revolutionary follows intense criticism by conservatives and anti-vaccine activists.

  25. NBC New York

    Fact focus: RFK Jr.'s reasons for cutting mRNA vaccine not supported by evidence (opens NBC New York)

    Published

    NBC New York's feed description

    Countless studies show that vaccinated individuals fare far better against COVID-19 infections than those who are unvaccinated

Showing the first 25 of 32 headlines. ·

Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.

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