This was one in a continuing line of moves that have put Kennedy's vaccine skepticism into public policy, though scientists say the vaccines are safe.

CSL Seqirus was one of the drugmakers the federal government listed this week as having its mRNA-related work cut. In an email to The N&O, a company spokesperson said its mRNA programs cited by HHS aren’t active and thus “this decision has no impact on our research.”

In justifying the government's termination of $500 million in funding for mRNA vaccine projects, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. falsely claimed mRNA vaccines "fail to protect effectively" against COVID-19 and suggested they are unsafe.