‘A big mistake’: Hawaii Gov. reacts to RFK Jr.’s funding cuts for MRNA vaccines

Funding & Research - HHS Secretary Kennedy is cutting almost $500 million in grants and contracts for mRNA vaccine development [1] - Experts call the statement that mRNA vaccines don't perform well against upper respiratory viruses wildly incorrect [2] - Scientists are calling Kennedy's funding cuts an attack on promising research after its use in rapidly developing COVID vaccines [2] - The cancellation of contracts is considered dangerous and bad policy [3] - The action is removing the capacity to do critical research that will help deal with all kinds of viruses in the future [5] - Research institutions require large-scale government support to do their work [6] National Security & Global Competition - The funding cut is a national security risk because other nations will get ahead with their vaccination plans using mRNA technology [7] - The US may have to beg to use other countries' vaccines later when the next crisis occurs [7] Political & Scientific Implications - The governor disagrees with Secretary Kennedy on vaccinations [9] - The governor was a minority testifier on a Senate panel where the majority testifiers were handpicked to demonize vaccinations [10] - The governor states that mRNA vaccinations decreased the severity of disease [12] - The governor believes the Secretary of Health's actions are a mistake from a science standpoint [13]