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.

While anti-vaxxers are thrilled, experts warn that defunding mRNA development takes away our already-proven best weapon against future pandemics.

In statements to the USA TODAY Network, both the University of Rochester Medical Center, or URMC, and Regeneron noted they don't receive federal funding connected to the mRNA research cuts announced by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s on Aug. 5.