RFK Jr Cites 3 False Claims to Justify Canceling Vaccine Funding

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

RFK Jr. Cites Three False COVID Vaccine Claims to Justify Canceling mRNA Vaccine Funding

Aug 08, 2025

 

"Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. advanced three false claims about COVID-19 vaccines to explain his cancellation of $500 million in government-funded mRNA vaccine projects, NewsGuard found."

 

(more)

 

https://www.newsguardrealitycheck.com/p/rfk-jr-cites-three-false-covid-vaccine

 

Summarizing their report in my own words, non-partisan fact checking agency Newsguard reported that Kennedy claimed the COVID mRNA vaccines were responsible for causing mutations to the COVID virus, leading to different versions that could more easily infect people. 

 

The Newsguard report replied:

 

"Actually: Vaccine experts say there is no evidence that COVID vaccines caused the COVID virus to mutate more quickly," and went on to cite an expert's commentary on that issue.

 

Newsguard also reported that Kennedy claimed mRNA vaccines aren't effective against viruses that infect the upper respiratory tract, and that mRNA technology poses more risks than benefits.

 

Newguard's report responded:

 

"Actually: Both claims are false," and went on to cite commentary from experts and recent studies that counter Kennedy's claims.

 

 

Source:

NewsGuard: Global Leader in Information Reliability

Reality Check is a newsletter from NewsGuard that dives beneath your news feed to explore how false claims spread online and uncover the forces that shape online narratives. 

 

NewsGuard combines human expertise and technology to provide data, analysis and journalism that helps enterprises and consumers identify reliable information online.... We are a strictly nonpartisan organization with investors and leadership from across the political spectrum.

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

And comparable reporting on RFK Jr.'s misinformation (false) claims from FactCheck.org:

 

RFK Jr. Justifies Cuts to mRNA Vaccine Projects With Falsehoods

Posted on August 7, 2025

 

"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. The mRNA shots saved millions of lives during the COVID-19 pandemic and have shown promise against influenza.

...

Dr. Peter Hotez, co-director of the Center for Vaccine Development at Texas Children’s Hospital and dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, told us the HHS announcement is “an exercise in disinformation.”"

 

(more)

 

https://www.factcheck.org/2025/08/rfk-jr-justifies-cuts-to-mrna-vaccine-projects-with-falsehoods/

 

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

And likewise by the Associated Press:

 

FACT FOCUS: RFK Jr.'s reasons for cutting mRNA vaccine not supported by evidence

August 7, 2025

 

"Although mRNA vaccines saved millions of lives during the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. incorrectly argued they are ineffective to justify the Department of Health and Human Service’s recent decision to cancel $500 million in government-funded research projects to develop new vaccines using the technology.

...

Kennedy’s claim ignores how mRNA vaccines work, according to experts. They prevent against severe infection and death, but cannot completely prevent an infection from occurring in the first place. Plus, years of research supports the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines that use mRNA technology.

 

(more)

 

https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-rfk-mrna-vaccines-effective-76633aadedfad3bec9a77e524c7ce6f7