The War on mRNA—Apocalypse Imminent?

"The latest atrocity in the Trump War on Science™ has just dropped." - J. Scott Turner

• Robert F Kennedy Jr. has just announced that federal funding for research on mRNA vaccines has been cut by $500 million.

Outrage has predictably followed...

What about that “greatest medical breakthrough”? 

Since the 1980s and prior to COVID-19, pharmaceutical companies had been dabbling in mRNA technology. 

During this time, mRNA technology was largely a technique in search of a use...

Results generally fell short of the promise, plagued by ongoing concerns over stability and effectiveness...
As vaccines, however, mRNA technology has proved a mixed bag.

• Reported adverse events (AE) are higher for the mRNA vaccines than for more traditional vaccines, although their incidence has arguably been exaggerated. 
• Doubts have also swirled ever since about the effectiveness of the mRNA vaccines, and whether they prevent the disease or provide true immunity...

There is a deeper question to ask. 

• Private industry funded much of the R&D behind mRNA vaccines. 
• If it is such a promising technology, why can’t private industry step in and fund this work?...