“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. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced in a statement Tuesday that 22 projects, totaling $500 million, to develop vaccines using mRNA technology will be halted.” AP News‍

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‍Many on both sides are critical of the funding cuts:

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‍“[Kennedy claimed] that the vaccines ‘don’t perform well against viruses that infect the upper respiratory tract.’ In fact, we have plenty of evidence, both from randomized controlled clinical trials and real-world studies, that Covid shots save lives and reduce hospitalizations. And although we need to see more data, early signs suggest that Moderna’s flu vaccine is comparable to — or even more effective than — existing flu vaccines based on older technologies…

“Kennedy also claims that the design of mRNA vaccines — which expose the immune system to proteins the virus uses to infect us — is rendered useless by single mutations, and that they encourage new mutations that can prolong pandemics. Both claims are false. All viruses accumulate tiny genetic changes over time, regardless of whether a vaccine exists.”

‍Lisa Jarvis, Bloomberg

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‍“Maybe the technology that uses fragments of the genetic code to manipulate the body to defend itself against infection and disease won’t produce any significant breakthroughs. But RFK Jr. wants Americans to believe that RNA, a molecule in every living cell, isn’t just ineffective but dangerous… In the past, Kennedy argued for the need for greater research to understand vaccines before recommending them — yet in this case, he demands less research…

“Not long ago, RFK Jr. fired the entire Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and replaced its members with his people… The former committee members, he argued, had too many ‘conflicts of interest,’ a euphemism for working or advising ‘Big Pharma.’ Imagine creating an advisory board for an industry without including people who understand how it works…“It’s a shame that so many groups like the American Medical Association, which went all-in on the authoritarian COVID regime, have burned the public’s trust and goodwill. However — and it needs to be stressed whenever possible — RFK Jr. is no better than the hacks who undermined our trust in science under former President Joe Biden.”

‍David Harsanyi, New York Post

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‍“mRNA vaccines, in combination with other therapies, promise to contain many cancers, turning them from a death sentence into a manageable, non-fatal disease. These vaccines are currently in development to fight all of the biggest killers: lung cancer, colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, and melanoma… There are even some tantalizing results suggesting that mRNA could soon be used to create a universal cancer therapy…

“Officially, cancer research isn’t being cancelled — yet. But cancer researchers are terrified that this move will derail their whole field, and with good reason. The chilling effect of this funding cancellation will cause a general loss of enthusiasm for the technology…“If you’re a researcher developing an mRNA treatment for lung cancer, how would you rate your chances of RFK Jr. approving your therapy for mass use when it has ‘mRNA’ in the name? If you’re a private funding organization, do you really want to fund a technology that the government — and a large chunk of the American electorate — has an irrational vendetta against?”

‍Noah Smith, Noahpinion

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‍“The awesome potential of mRNA to combat disease is difficult to overstate. Whereas traditional vaccines usually take years to formulate, mRNA vaccines can be designed in weeks or even days. Moderna’s Covid vaccine, which proved to be 94.5 percent effective in clinical trials, took one weekend to design. Pfizer and BioNTech’s took a few hours…  

“mRNA is more customizable than traditional medicine, allowing for personalized treatments for patients. That may allow mRNA drugs to correct genetic defects and target specific tumors. Scientists believe that mRNA could someday prevent the progression of cancer from the earliest stages. To be sure, there are still many challenges to translating mRNA into successful treatments. But to stymie the development of this technology now would be unfathomably wrongheaded.”

‍John R. Puri, National Review‍

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‍Other opinions below.