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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Nicola Davis Science correspondent

Despite RFK’s funding block, mRNA vaccines are too impressive to ignore

Vaccine Robert F. Kennedy Jr Andrew Pollard Kate Bingham Pandemic Covid-19 Influenza Moderna
Table covered in vials of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine
The mRNA vaccines developed during the Covid-19 pandemic helped to save millions of lives. Photograph: Vichan Poti/Pacific Press/Rex/Shutterstock

It was a blow many were braced for, yet the block on US funding for mRNA vaccines by Robert F Kennedy Jr’s health department has left scientists reeling, with some stating the move could make the world less safe.

On Tuesday, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced it would cancel $500m (£376m) in funding for mRNA vaccines, ending 22 federal contracts – including one with the pharmaceutical company Moderna for its bird flu vaccine for humans.

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