The WHO describes the US decision to terminate mRNA vaccine contracts as a ‘significant blow’
The announcement from US President Donald Trump’s administration to cancel 22 federal contracts for mRNA-based vaccines represents a significant setback for a highly promising platform, according to the World Health Organization on Thursday.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s statement signifies his ongoing attempt to integrate vaccine skepticism into the fundamental policies of the US government
“This is, of course, a significant blow,” WHO immunisation figurehead Joachim Hombach told the UN correspondents’ association ACANU.
“mRNA vaccines are a very important technology and platform which has served us extremely well for Covid. We also know there is very promising work going on in relation to influenza vaccines.
“From our perspective, the platform is particularly useful in relation to developing vaccines against emerging and pandemic threats, because these platforms can be very rapidly adapted.”
In contrast to conventional vaccines that typically utilize weakened or inactivated versions of the target virus or bacteria, mRNA vaccines provide genetic instructions to the host’s cells. This process encourages the cells to create a decoy of the pathogen, thereby training the immune system to combat the actual virus or bacteria.
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority of the US health department is “terminating 22 investments in mRNA vaccine development due to data indicating that these vaccines do not provide effective protection against upper respiratory infections such as COVID and flu,” Kennedy stated.
Hombach, the executive secretary for the WHO’s strategic advisory group of experts on immunisation, urged that efforts to develop mRNA vaccines should persist globally.
“This is, from our perspective, an unfortunate and untimely move but we are confident that the research endeavour will continue because it’s an extremely promising technology,” Hombach told reporters.
Soon after taking office in January, Trump issued an executive order instructing the United States to exit the WHO, an organization he has consistently criticized for its management of the Covid-19 pandemic.