U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continued his Alaska tour this week with stops in Tanana and Fairbanks on Wednesday, and a scheduled visit to Kenai on Thursday.

Kennedy met with leaders from the Alaska Tribal Health Consortium, alongside Alaska Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, to discuss healthcare for Alaska Native communities.

Outside the health consortium, nearly 150 protesters gathered, holding signs and chanting in opposition to Kennedy’s recent announcement to halt funding for 22 vaccine projects—cutting about $500 million allocated for mRNA vaccine development.

Local residents emphasized the vital role vaccines play in their communities. Emily Haas, an Alaska Native from the village of Tununak, shared how accessible healthcare has been a lifeline.

“Just havi

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