The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) plans to cancel $500m (£376m) in funding for mRNA vaccines being developed to counter viruses that cause diseases such as the flu and Covid-19.

In a clear rebuke to US health secretary and zealous anti-vaccine advocate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the American Academy of Pediatrics on Tuesday released its own evidence-based vaccination schedule for children —a task typically left to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and its trusted advisory committee.