Rumors and speculation have swirled across the United States in recent days, as reports emerged that President Donald Trump and newly appointed Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are considering removing COVID-19 vaccines from the U.S. market within months. The news, first reported on August 25 and 26, 2025, set off a firestorm of debate, confusion, and concern among public health experts, policymakers, and the general public alike.
According to The Daily Beast, Dr. Aseem Malhotra—a British cardiologist, outspoken vaccine critic, and advisor to the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Action group—revealed that the Trump administration, with Kennedy’s backing, is actively planning to pull the vaccines. Malhotra, who is expected to meet with former President Trump in September to further press his case, stated that the move could occur “within months.” As the rumor spread, shares of major vaccine manufacturers like Pfizer, BioNTech, Moderna, and Novavax began to tumble, reflecting investor anxiety over the future of COVID-19 immunizations in the U.S. market (as noted by TheFly and other financial news outlets).
Malhotra’s claims rest on a 2022 peer-reviewed paper that suggested mRNA vaccines were associated with a higher rate of serious adverse events than placebos in clinical trials. He has cited a study published in the journal Vaccine to support his assertions. However, as Indian Express and other outlets have reported, public health experts have largely dismissed these studies, pointing to methodological flaws and arguing that they downplay the overwhelming benefits of COVID-19 vaccines.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., long known for his skepticism toward vaccines, has wasted little time in reshaping federal vaccine policy since assuming his post at HHS. Earlier this year, Kennedy canceled $500 million in funding for mRNA vaccine development, describing the COVID-19 shot as “the deadliest vaccine ever made.” This stance has drawn sharp criticism from across the scientific community. More than 750 current and former staff members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HHS, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) signed a letter accusing Kennedy of spreading misinformation and endangering public health, according to Indian Express.
Meanwhile, the White House has sought to tamp down the speculation. In a statement to The Daily Beast, White House spokesperson Kush Desai said, “The Administration is relying on Gold Standard Science and is committed to radical transparency to make decisions that affect all Americans. Unless announced by the Administration, however, any discussion about HHS policy should be dismissed as baseless speculation.” As of August 26, neither the White House nor HHS had issued a formal policy announcement regarding the removal of COVID-19 vaccines, and HHS told Snopes that it could not comment on potential policy decisions.
The mere possibility of a vaccine withdrawal has triggered strong reactions from both supporters and critics. On social media, posts citing outlets like Newsweek and The Daily Beast quickly gained traction, with users debating the wisdom—and legality—of such a move. Some pointed out the apparent irony: Trump’s own administration spearheaded Operation Warp Speed during his first term, a public-private partnership that led to the rapid development and deployment of COVID-19 vaccines that have since been credited with saving millions of lives.
Indeed, scientific consensus remains firmly on the side of vaccination. As Green Matters reported, “The COVID-19 vaccine has proven to be remarkably effective. Even the CDC, which is now under the control of the Trump administration, has published studies indicating that the vaccines work at preventing severe cases of COVID and have limited the number of deaths the disease has caused.” Leading medical organizations have continued to recommend the vaccine for children under 2 years old and pregnant people, directly contradicting Kennedy’s earlier moves to stop recommending the vaccine for these groups.
Yet, the prospect of a ban—or even a significant reduction in vaccine availability—raises pressing legal and practical questions. As Snopes and The New York Times have pointed out, the president does not have unilateral authority to remove vaccines from the market. Public health authority in the U.S. is largely decentralized, with states playing a key role, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversees the licensing and regulation of vaccines. Lawrence O. Gostin, a public health law expert at Georgetown University, told The New York Times that any attempt by the president to unilaterally remove a lawful product from the market would likely trigger a protracted legal fight. The nonprofit health policy organization KFF echoed this view, explaining that the FDA can only remove vaccines in the event of serious safety concerns or other issues, and must follow a formal regulatory process.
Further complicating the picture, HHS announced in early August 2025 that it would wind down its mRNA vaccine development efforts under the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority. This move, which included ending 22 mRNA vaccine development projects worth nearly $500 million, was justified by Kennedy on the grounds that the vaccines “fail to effectively protect against respiratory infections like COVID-19”—a claim hotly disputed by health experts. HHS clarified that some final-stage mRNA contracts would continue to “preserve prior taxpayer investment,” but “no new mRNA-based projects will be initiated.” Other uses of mRNA technology within the department were not affected. Public health leaders have warned that halting these efforts could undermine the nation’s preparedness for future pandemics.
On the ground, the uncertainty is palpable. Snopes and other fact-checking organizations have noted that while the rumors have not been independently verified, the mere discussion of a vaccine removal has already created confusion among providers and patients. Some experts warn that even the threat of a ban could erode public confidence in vaccines—especially if it is not accompanied by clear, evidence-based communication from government leaders.
For now, the Biden administration’s official position is to rely on scientific evidence and regulatory processes, while Kennedy and his allies continue to press their case against mRNA vaccines. Dr. Malhotra, for his part, told The Daily Beast that “it could [happen] in a number of stages, including learning more about the data. But given the increased talk of vaccine injuries in the past few weeks among the administration, it could also come with one clean decision.”
Whether the Trump administration will ultimately follow through on these reported plans remains to be seen. Legal, political, and scientific hurdles all stand in the way. But the episode underscores the deep divisions—and high stakes—surrounding vaccine policy in the United States as the country continues to grapple with the legacy of the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges of public health in a polarized era.
