MAINE, USA — The federal government is pulling the plug on half a billion dollars in mRNA vaccine research funding — a move that's raising alarm among public health leaders across the country, including right here in Maine.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced it would terminate $500 million worth of contracts tied to the development of mRNA-based vaccines, the same technology used in COVID-19, RSV, and bird flu vaccines.

This decision reflects Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s long-held skepticism toward vaccines, questioning the safety and effectiveness of mRNA technology. Now running as a third-party candidate in the 2024 presidential race, Kennedy is advocating for alternatives.

"Right now we're developing a universal vaccine at NIH... a vaccine that mimics

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