mRNA Vaccines: A Nobel Prize-Winning Technology
mRNA vaccines saved millions of lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, scientists are using this technology to develop vaccines and treatments against various diseases, including cancer and cystic fibrosis.
However, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime vaccine critic, has canceled $500 million in government-funded research projects for new mRNA vaccines against respiratory illnesses.
This decision dismays infectious disease experts, who note that mRNA allows for faster production of shots than older methods, buying precious time if another pandemic were to emerge.
Author's summary: mRNA vaccines show promise against various diseases.