“To scientists who study it, mRNA is a miracle molecule,” The New York Times reported in May. “The vaccines that harnessed it against Covid saved an estimated 20 million lives, a rapid development that was recognized with a Nobel Prize.”
The report added that mRNA research has raised hopes of possible treatments — and perhaps even cures — for deadly cancers and a host of genetic and chronic diseases.
Nevertheless, this week, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that he and the Trump administration are terminating a series of federal contracts focused on developing mRNA vaccines. The conspiracy theorist, who has a lengthy record of promoting bizarre and unscientific ideas, also said he’s winding down additional federal investments in mRNA technology.
The reactions from those who take science, medicine and public health seriously have bordered on apocalyptic. Mike Osterholm, a University of Minnesota expert on infectious diseases and pandemic preparations, told The Associated Press, “I don’t think I’ve seen a more dangerous decision in public health in my 50 years in the business.” USA Today’s Rex Huppke added that Kennedy’s policies “are almost certainly going to kill people.”
Even Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who put aside everything he had learned about Kennedy and voted to confirm him, eventually issued a public statement this week describing this week’s move as “unfortunate.” (Don’t strain yourself, senator.)
But perhaps most notably, Trump’s own former surgeon general stepped up, too. NBC News reported:
Dr. Jerome Adams, who served as the surgeon general during Trump’s first term, criticized the current administration’s move to cut about $500 million in mRNA vaccine development contracts. ‘I’ve tried to be objective & non-alarmist in response to current HHS actions — but quite frankly this move is going to cost lives,’ Adams said in a post to X [published on Wednesday night]. ‘mRNA technology has uses that go far beyond vaccines ... and the vaccine they helped develop in record time is credited with saving millions.’
Adams, it’s worth noting, also condemned Kennedy in June after the secretary gutted the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Months earlier, Adams also encouraged Senate Republicans to think twice before voting to confirm Kennedy. (Soon after, 52 Republicans — including alleged “moderates” such as Maine’s Susan Collins and Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski — ignored his advice.)
If recent history is any guide, Trump’s former surgeon general will be deemed a MAGA enemy — if he hasn’t been already — and angry presidential tweets are likely to follow.
As for Trump’s perspective on this week’s developments, a reporter reminded the president at an Oval Office event this week that he used to celebrate mRNA vaccines — the president explicitly referred to them as a “modern-day miracle” — before he put the nation’s public health infrastructure in the hands of a guy who has claimed, among other things, that Wi-Fi causes “leaky brain.”
Asked for some kind of explanation, the president told reporters, “Well, we’re going to look at that. We’re talking about it and they’re doing a very good job. ... We are speaking about it. We have meetings about it — tomorrow, actually, tomorrow at 12:00, and we’ll determine. We’re looking for other answers to other problems, to other sicknesses and diseases.”
I haven’t the foggiest idea what this was supposed to mean, but given how radical and dangerous Kennedy’s decision is, Trump’s meandering assurances do not inspire confidence.
This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
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