New Study Finds mRNA Vaccine Research Cancellation by Secretary Kennedy Could Cost Nearly 50,000 Lives Annually

WASHINGTON - A new study from the Yale Center for Infectious Disease Modeling and Analysis highlights the health and economic costs of the decisions by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to abruptly cancel nearly $500 million in mRNA-related research and development contracts. The study finds that emerging mRNA vaccines against cancer could save 49,000 American lives annually and contribute $75 billion annually to the economy. Senator Hassan requested this analysis in September.

"This new independent analysis provides even more evidence that Secretary Kennedy's reckless behavior will cost American lives," said Senator Hassan. "The mRNA vaccine platform is one of the most powerful technologies to be discovered in the last decade, and Secretary Kennedy's decision to abruptly pull funding that could help develop mRNA vaccines for cancer and other diseases will abandon the 49,000 people a year whose lives could be saved."

Click here to see the new analysis released by the Center for Infectious Disease Modeling and Analysis.

In August, Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. abruptly canceled nearly $500 million in mRNA-related research and development contracts. The Secretary's decision, which he justified with baseless claims that mRNA vaccines are ineffective, terminated funding for research that could be used to develop treatments and cures for deadly diseases, including cancer. Senator Hassan then wrote to the Center for Infectious Disease Modeling and Analysis at the Yale School of Public Health asking for a comprehensive assessment of how Secretary Kennedy's abandonment of mRNA research could impact American lives and health.

Senator Hassan has spoken out about the dangers that Secretary Kennedy poses to the health and safety of Americans and has called for his resignation. Senator Hassan recently called out Secretary Kennedy at a Senate hearing for making it harder for Americans to get vaccinated. She has also pushed Kennedy during multiple hearings and delivered remarks on the Senate floor highlighting the ways in which Kennedy's abandonment of his prior support for reproductive freedom, lack of knowledge about the basics of the health care programs that he is now overseeing, and history of promoting dangerous anti-vaccine conspiracy theories put the health and safety of Americans at risk.

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