The Development of mRNA Vaccines Stops After Support from Trump

• Robert Kennedy Jr. has stopped funding mRNA vaccine research at $500 million.
• Trump previously considered mRNA vaccines a "medical miracle."
• Changes to the established vaccines occurred after the Trump administration.

In Washington, President Donald Trump acknowledged in 2020 that mRNA vaccines were a "medical miracle" developed to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, his health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is effectively halting the development of this technology. In an interview, Kennedy announced the cancellation of contracts for mRNA research for a total of $500 million, which would become a setback for the U.S. in this technology to prevent future pandemics, cancer treatment, or the prevention of flu.

This marks a significant shift from how Trump and his closest advisors described this technology during his first term.
In particular, Robert Redfield, the director of the Centers for Disease Control, stated in his statement on February 16, 2020, that "The COVID-19 vaccine is what will return Americans to normal life." At that time, when Americans were still wearing masks, Redfield promised that new vaccines, developed for the first time using mRNA technology, would ensure a return to normalcy.

Trump also emphasized that he would not allow Joe Biden to take credit for the vaccine, emphasizing his role in its development. "This is one of the biggest achievements. This is a medical miracle," he said on November 26, 2020, during a press conference at the White House.

Key Trump officials, such as Alex Azar, confirmed that the vaccines are safe and effective, while surveys indicated that 70-80% of Americans planned to get vaccinated. In April 2023, General Gustave Perna noted that vaccine development usually takes five to ten years, but thanks to scientific work and industry collaboration, it was possible to accomplish it in a matter of months.

After receiving the vaccine, Trump emphasized that they saved tens of millions of lives, but his supporters in some cases expressed dissatisfaction with his achievements.

Tags: USA/Politics/Research