This was one in a continuing line of moves that have put Kennedy's vaccine skepticism into public policy, though scientists say the vaccines are safe.

In justifying the government's termination of $500 million in funding for mRNA vaccine projects, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. falsely claimed mRNA vaccines "fail to protect effectively" against COVID-19 and suggested they are unsafe.

CSL Seqirus was one of the drugmakers the federal government listed this week as having its mRNA-related work cut. In an email to The N&O, a company spokesperson said its mRNA programs cited by HHS aren’t active and thus “this decision has no impact on our research.”