TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN). — The federal government announced this week that it is pulling more than $500 million in funding from vaccine development projects that use mRNA technology, which is the same platform behind the COVID-19 vaccine.

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the Department of Health and Human Services is shifting focus toward developing what he calls “safer and more stable” vaccine strategies, such as whole-virus vaccines. In total, 22 federally funded projects are being halted, including research into mRNA-based vaccines for COVID-19, influenza, and bird flu.

Crystal Rambaud, the Immunization Program Manager with the Pima County Health Department, said the announcement won’t affect vaccine availability this fall.

“This is not going to change the fact that we

See Full Page