‘Kennedy’s vaccine decision goes against scientific evidence’ - Interviews with AGTRU's experts
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US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has cut $500 million in funding for mRNA vaccine development.
US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has cut $500 million in funding for mRNA vaccine development.
This affects 22 projects targeting respiratory viruses such as COVID-19, influenza, and avian flu (H5N1).
Kennedy says this technology has limited effectiveness in the long term due to the mutations of viruses and is pushing for a move towards whole-virus vaccines.
However, Arbuthnot says this is not true as mRNA vaccines are great for targeting fast-evolving viruses as they are quick to adapt.
Health experts are criticising the decision, saying mRNA vaccines have saved millions of lives and are essential for pandemic preparations.
“People in the scientific community and medical community are really surprised by this decision... it is going against what the evidence says... This is something that should be nurtured and, in fact, strengthened, not curtailed by funding cuts.” - Prof Patrick Arbuthnot, Antiviral Gene Therapy Unit - Wits
Listen to Professor Arbuthnot's interview with John Maytham on Cape Talk.