HHS Cuts $500 Million In Vaccine Research Funding

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has terminated 22 research projects focused on mRNA technology. The agency is currently monitoring for compliance while managing the paused funds. Legal arguments presented to the Court of Appeals included over 10,000 studies regarding regulatory oversight. Senator Kim requested that ARPA and the Surgeon General's Office conduct matter reviews or base studies regarding the risks of toxins entering the brain. The request follows a legal case involving FTC regulations on toxins. The Senator cited horrendous risks to the American public as the motivation for the inquiry. Support for harm reduction efforts designed to help drug users avoid blood-borne viruses like HIV, AIDS, and hepatitis has also been slashed. Health Secretary Kennedy is reportedly focusing on wellness and faith-centered programs as part of a new national recovery initiative. Kennedy stated he wants a spiritual renaissance for people struggling with addiction. The cuts follow observations that fatal overdoses in the US often occur immediately following periods of abstinence. These projects include mRNA technology that has been under development for 30 years and entered mainstream use during the COVID-19 pandemic. William Moss of the International Vaccine Access Center and Johns Hopkins discussed the funding reduction.