Health and Human Services Secretary and long-time vaccine critic Robert F. Kennedy Junior’s decision to cancel $500 million in mRNA research contracts is being heavily criticized by health officials across the country. One of those is Woodford County Public Health Director Cassie Prather, who said the mRNA COVID vaccines are still lifesavers.
“A lot of people don't realize that the mRNA technology has been around for many, many years, but this was just the first time that they really put the money and the research behind it, and it was effective. It did save many lives, and it can save many more.”
Kennedy calls the mRNA programs troubled and said the Department of Health and Human Services is prioritizing safer, broader vaccine strategies. Prather said Messenger RNAs help researchers quickly attack new disease strains.
“We can get in there quickly and change the effects of this protein, this spike protein, and have something out again that is very effective, because, yes, the flu, COVID, other respiratory viruses do mutate quickly, and so to have that capability with mRNA is key in, you know, protecting lives now and in the future.”
Dr. Steve Davis is the medical director of the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department. He and Prather said they’re concerned Kennedy’s cancellation will increase vaccine hesitancy in a state where vaccination rates are already well below the national average.
“There's countless lives have been saved over the years, over the years in vaccinology, I mean, millions of lives saved, hospitalizations prevented and so I would only hope that this decision that's been made doesn't have an adverse effect, but I am concerned that it will.”
