Why the US is Doubling Down on mRNA Vaccine Doubts

The US government has decided to pause $500 million worth of agreements for mRNA vaccine development. This move comes as public trust in this technology wanes. Jay Bhattacharya, a leader at the NIH, recently discussed this on a podcast. He emphasized that without public confidence, these vaccines can't be effective. But this isn't the only explanation making the rounds. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has publicly stated that mRNA vaccines are both unsafe and ineffective. This raises the question: is the pause due to trust issues or safety concerns? It's a bit of a puzzle. Michael Osterholm, a well-known infectious disease expert, disagrees with Bhattacharya's take. He argues that Kennedy and his team have been sowing doubt about vaccine safety for some time. This might be contributing to the current hesitancy. Bhattacharya also mentioned that mRNA vaccines don't prevent infections. However, it's important to note that no COVID-19 vaccine can do that. They all aim to reduce the severity of the illness. So, why single out mRNA vaccines? Some critics point out that mRNA vaccines cause the body to produce the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. They worry about the unknowns regarding how much of this protein is produced. But Scott Hensley, a microbiology professor, counters this by saying that other vaccines, like those for measles or chickenpox, do the same thing. He also points out that mRNA vaccines have been thoroughly tested and proven safe and effective. Despite this, Bhattacharya believes mRNA technology isn't ready for widespread use. On the other hand, experts like Hensley argue that we should continue investing in it. They believe it can be improved to better prevent infections. So, is the US making a mistake by halting these deals? Only time will tell.