RFK Jr is wrong about RFK Jr is wrong about mRNA vaccines – a scientist explains how they make COVID less deadlyRFK Jr is wrong about

©️The Conversation
7th August 2025
Deborah Dunn-Walters

US health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr has announced he is cancelling US$500 million (£374 million) of research into mRNA vaccines, citing unproven concerns about their safety and long-term effects.

Kennedy has claimed that mRNA vaccines “encourage new mutations and can actually prolong pandemics” – a misleading statement that contradicts the scientific consensus on viral evolution and effects of vaccination.

But scientific research shows that mRNA vaccines have saved millions of lives.

As an immunologist, I’ve spent years studying how the body responds to SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses. Let’s be clear: there is no credible evidencethat mRNA vaccines cause viral mutations – genetic changes that occur as a virus copies itself – or that they’re ineffective against respiratory infections like COVID-19 or flu. These claims misrepresent both how viruses evolve and how vaccines actually work.

Unlike traditional vaccines, which introduce weakened or inactive parts of a virus to trigger immunity, mRNA vaccines work by delivering genetic instructions that teach our cells to produce a harmless piece of the virus (usually a protein found on its surface). This gives the immune system a preview of what to fight, so it’s ready if the real virus shows up.

Our bodies are constantly fighting off infectious organisms – viruses, bacteria and other pathogens – that rely on us as hosts to survive and reproduce. As part of this ongoing battle, viruses naturally mutate over time. This process happens with or without vaccines.

Each time a virus replicates, small copying errors can occur in its genetic material. Some of these mutations have no impact; others give the virus a competitive advantage, helping it spread more efficiently. That’s how new variants arise.

In the case of COVID-19, scientists observed that the virus was mutating from the start. Variants appeared both within individuals (“intra-host variation”) and between them (“inter-host variation”). Every so often, one version would gain a competitive advantage – spreading faster, evading immunity, or becoming more infectious – and take over. These are the variants you might remember: alpha, delta, omicron.

This is how evolution works: organisms reproduce and change, and some changes help them thrive.

The immune system’s defence

Now, let’s look at the other side of the battle: our immune system.

Some parts of our immune defence are always on: physical barriers like skin, and innate immune responses that are ready to fight anything unfamiliar. But our most powerful defence is adaptive immunity: a specialised response that targets a specific invader once it’s been identified.

This is where vaccines come in. When a virus invades the body for the first time, it can cause serious illness before our adaptive immune system knows how to respond. But vaccines, including mRNA vaccines, act like a rehearsal. They introduce a harmless piece of the virus (often a single protein) so the immune system can learn to recognise it and respond faster in the future.

mRNA vaccines work by delivering a snippet of genetic instructions to our cells, which then produce the viral protein temporarily. Our immune system then builds a response to it. This means we get all the immune training with none of the illness – unlike actual infection, which can be dangerous.

Vaccines don’t cause viruses to mutate. The mutations already exist – they emerge randomly and constantly during viral replication. What vaccines (and our immune systems) do is filter which variants survive.

When the original COVID-19 virus encountered a population with strong immune defences – built through vaccination or past infection – it was effectively stopped. That virus lost its competitive edge. But other, naturally occurring variants with slightly different surface proteins (the “outer coat”) could sometimes sneak past these defences. That’s how new variants emerged.

Importantly, neither vaccines nor natural immunity created those mutations – they simply selected which ones became dominant.

The good news

There’s a silver lining. Even when a variant partially evades immune defences, our bodies often still recognise parts of it. This is called cross-reactivity – and it can mean we get less sick, even with a new strain.

Over time, as we’re exposed to more variants through infection or updated vaccines, our immune system refines its response. It becomes better prepared to fight future versions of the virus – just like it’s done with flu and other infectious diseases.

COVID-19 hasn’t disappeared, but thanks to mRNA vaccines and our growing immune memory, it’s far less deadly than it was in 2020.

Despite the claims of high-profile figures like RFK Jr, mRNA vaccines do not cause viruses to mutate. Mutations are part of viral evolution: a natural process that happens regardless of our intervention.

What vaccines do is give us a fighting chance. They’ve saved millions of lives by reducing severe illness, hospitalisations and death. They remain one of the most powerful tools we have in the ongoing battle against infectious disease.

James Randi in Australia – 45th Anniversary Edition

This wonderful programme is a digitally restored version of a 45 year old skeptic analysis on water divining, conducted under the auspices of James Randi.

Listen more to how this came about via The Skeptic Zone Episode 870.

YouTube Synopsis:

In 1980 James “The Amazing” Randi was flown to Australia by Dick Smith to conduct the definitive test of the claims of Water Diviners or Dowers. This event helped to launch the Australian Skeptics. The original documentary of the event commissioned by Dick Smith and broadcast on Australian television, has been lost for decades, with the only known copy being one recorded via a VCR in 1980. To celebrate the 45th anniversary of the event, the documentary has been digitally restored to sparkling clarity, including a sound remix, from the VCR version. Keep watching after the credits to see some of the improvements in this new upscaled version.

Vale Roy Arnott

Terry Kelly and Ken Greatorex share their thoughts about former Treasurer, Roy Arnott.

It is with great sadness that we report the death of the former Treasurer of the Australian Skeptics Victorian Branch (Inc), Roy Arnott (OAM).

Roy Arnott

Roy was a formidable Treasurer for many years and he also contributed largely to sorting out our Constitution. He was a clear thinker, thorough, and a particularly pithy communicator…”. The Prince Of Pith” he was labelled. Those of you who attended skeptic events at La Notte in Lygon Street Carlton, may also remember Roy assessing door takings. After counting heads and coins Roy would ultimately announce, “Correct weight”. 

This ability to say a lot in a few words also enabled him to be a regularly published contributor to The Age “Letters To The Editor”. They weren’t long letters. Nonetheless, on the topic of military history and skepticism, Roy penned An Atheist in the Army in 2009 [The Skeptic March 2009, p.48].

Roy was also humorous, warm, charming and good company. He has been greatly missed in Skeptics circles since his health made it difficult to maintain his regular and much valued Skeptical activities.

In one of his other lives Roy was awarded an OAM (Medal of the Order of Australia) [The Skeptic Sept 2015, p.5]. The official citation states his award was on 8th June 2015 as part of the Queen’s Birthday Honours List. Roy was recognised for service to the preservation of military history, and to veterans. 

Roy enlisted in the CMF (later the Australian Army Reserve) in 1959 retiring as a Warrant Officer Class 2 in 1996.

His civilian career was in the Australian Public Service, mainly in Defence related departments. In the latter years Roy transferred from Defence and his terminal posting with the APS was a six year term with the Australian National Audit Office.

He subsequently did consultancy work for the Government post retirement and was given his OAM mainly for his voluntary work with the army Museum and its history. Roy curated for the Prince of Wales Light Horse Regiment, spending a day per week at the museum/reading room at the Watsonia Barracks. Roy also authored a small book on the history of the regiment, published in 2008.

He was also adept at setting and solving cryptic crosswords. Vic Skeptics website featured a monthly skeptical crossword puzzle. For about 8 years it came with two sets of clues: Ken Greatorex supplied the “straight” set of clues and Roy provided the “cryptic” set, i.e. about 100 sets. These were popular with viewers from around the world.

Finally – and Roy might have enjoyed this – he was difficult to find in The Age Obituaries because he was listed as Roy Arnott OAM, so he was in the “O”s, a long way from the “A”s (A.I. fail?). It wouldn’t have been a laugh out loud respone, more like a wry grin and a sigh of great amusement.

Highly respected and sadly missed.

Condolences to his wife June and family.

Terry Kelly and Ken Greatorex.

Surf Coast Skepticamp 2025

It’s time once again to start thinking about Surf Coast Skepticamp – the delightful gathering of skeptics at Aireys Inlet on the Great Ocean Road.

This year the event is being held at Aireys Inlet Community Hall from 10.30am to 4.30pm. The journey from Melbourne is around 1 hour 45 minutes by combustion engine, battery, or hybrid powered vehicles. Time absolutely slides by as the stunning vista of Great Ocean Road scenery cruises by. The cost, of course, is free. But you can still help with arrangements by popping into Eventbrite here and picking up a ticket. Full details are available there also.

Topics covered in the past include: UFOs (Saunders & Dunning beamed live from Bend, Oregon!), Anti-vaxxers after COVID, Going Solar, Fake Martial Arts, Catching Academic Cheats, Climate change in Australia: fact vs. fiction, Crowdfunding Scams, Shayna Jack, sports supplements and regulators, The Weeping Woman and Other Tales: The Belief in the Supernatural in Latin America, Quiz: Just how smart are skeptics?, and much more.

Come along and enjoy the day. Or, why not bring your interests to Skepticamp and present a 20 minute-ish talk? If that sounds like you, just drop an email with your details and chosen topic to sleepy.song6236@fastmail.com. And if your topic just happens to be about sleepy songs well that’s fine also. Skeptical thoughts on public health, alternatives to medicine, communicating with the dead, UFO/UAP reports, or the many bizarre claims reaching social media; any and all are welcome. 

We break for lunch and visit the various eateries around Aireys Inlet then finish the evening with a wind down and meal at Aireys pub. 

See you there!

Melanie Tracek-King at CONASTA

On July 8, Melanie Tracek-King attended the Australian Science Teachers Association Conference (CONASTA) in Melbourne, where she presented “Teach Skills, Not Facts.” The talk attracted high school science teachers, lab coordinators and science curriculum specialists.

During the session, she emphasized the importance of teaching critical thinking, information literacy, and science literacy.

The Australian Skeptics Victorian Branch were pleased to be able to sponsor her involvement in the conference and ever so grateful that she was able to make an extra stop in Melbourne to attend the event.

The UFO Movie THEY Don’t Want You to See

When it comes to UFO documentaries, The UFO Movie THEY Don’t Want You To See offers in depth answers from the relevant scientific disciplines that help us understand, “exactly what we know and how we know it” on the topic of UFOs, or if you prefer, UAPs.

Suffice it to say these in depth answers don’t include the beliefs of journalist Ross Coulthart, winner of The Australian Skeptics 2023 Bent Spoon Award. Executive officer Tim Mendham helps us understand in noting:

Coulthart won for his recent espousal of UFO conspiracy theories and claims that alien bodies and wrecked spacecraft are being held in secret by various government across the world – claims he makes based on hearsay with no evidence, no bodies, no space junk.

The UFO Movie THEY Don’t Want You To See is a feature length indie documentary produced and directed by science writer Brian Dunning. You likely know Brian from the award winning Skeptoid podcast, appearances at numerous Skeptic conferences – including Skepticon Australia – articles in The Skeptic magazine, Skeptical Inquirer or guest spots on other Skeptic media, such as The Skeptic Zone podcast. A great deal of work has gone into making and producing this movie, so let’s get to it.

In an age when misinformation, alternative facts, and conspiracy theories have become mainstream, UFOs have risen to become one of the most-talked about pop culture phenomena. With all of this noise, how can we expect anyone to know how much of this is true? What is in our skies? What do we know, and how do we know it? And most importantly: Are we being visited?

Science does have most of these answers, and we’re working on answering the rest of them. The film features experts in:

  • Physics & relativity
  • Exobiology
  • Exoplanetary spectral analysis
  • Image analysis
  • Pilot training and air traffic control
  • Defense

For more information about the movie, there’s an FAQ page here. If you’ve seen it you no doubt want to watch again. If you haven’t seen it pop the kettle on, draw the curtains and enjoy…

Nate Eggins – Conspiracy Of One – to entertain Skepticon diners

Entertainment for Skepticon’s Saturday night dinner, will be courtesy of Brisbane-based songwriter, musician and science communicator, Nate Eggins. In addition, Nate will also be one of the Skepticon MCs. With thought-provoking lyrics, Nate aims:

To encourage interest in science, promote critical thinking and with his quirky sense of humour, playfully nudge us to second-guess pseudoscience, modern advertising and conspiracy theories through fun catchy clever music.

Nate, a multi-instrumentalist, has used his talent and interest to create the solo project, Conspiracy of One. Described as A bit sciency, A bit funny,Conspiracy of One sold out two live performances at the Brisbane Planetarium, for the release of Nate’s debut album, Road To Reason.

Skeptics and fans of the Australian Skeptics podcast The Skeptic Zone are likely familiar with Nate’s 2021 hit, The Sound a Duck Makes. Indeed your “Quack!” vocal may well be on it. Road To Reason reflects Nate’s journey, “from the darkness of ignorance toward the light of scientific and critical thinking”.

Hit songs from the album include Can You Guess My Star Sign? which features Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, The Song THEY Don’t Want You To Hear and It’s Not You, It’s Corona. Great music and good humour with dinner, in the company of skeptics? Sounds like a great night.

https://skepticon.org.au/speaker/nate-eggins/

You can learn more about Nate Eggins on his Facebook page, Instagram or check out some of his music on YouTube.

The Saturday night dinner is at the St. Andrews Conservatory in Nicholson St. Fitzroy. If you’d like a ticket, please visit Try Booking.

Clinical psychologist will chat to Skepticon audience

Gary Bakker is a clinical psychologist with over 40 years experience. His talk at the upcoming Australian Skeptics national convention is titled, Sex, gender and identity: The politics and the science.

https://skepticon.org.au/speaker/gary-bakker/

Gary notes:

It has been very hard to get past the politics of issues around sex, gender, and identity while trying to apply the science to our legal and social policy decision-making. For example, it took several submissions to journals before my two articles on the topic – ‘Sex, gender, and identity: It’s complicated’ and ‘Sex, gender, and identity: Science or politics?’ – were published, both eventually in Rationale, the journal of the Rationalist Society of Australia.

Even Skeptical Inquirer “didn’t want to go there” because any moderate contribution is attacked (cancelled) by both of the vocal extremes on the issue.

Visit Skepticon 2023 for more information or look for tickets here.

Don’t miss Katharine Shade’s journey to skepticism

This year at The Australian Skeptics national convention, Katharine Shade will reveal her journey from the fog and confusion of woo, to the glaring clarity of skepticism.

https://skepticon.org.au/speaker/katharine-shade/

Such ventures from the badlands of belief, tend to feature similarities. Katharine will tell of her escape from the healing that never healed, of living with faith in the so-called “dis-ease” model beloved by fundamentalist chiropractors, and even diving headlong into the semi-aquatic theory of human evolution. 

Her tale promises to have a happy ending, as Katharine ultimately succeeded in broadening her approach to learning accepted truths. However, she says it took a bit more time to learn enough skills to be able to more precisely attribute plausibility, and understand how a theory that seems perfectly valid, can be bogus.

You too can follow Katharine’s journey at Skepticon 2023 and even finish off the day at the entertainment packed dinner. Or just kick back at home on the couch, and watch online. Tickets are available here.

Melissa Davey joins Skepticon panel

Award winning science journalist Melissa Davey will be joining Gideon Meyerowitz-Katz and Liam Mannix in the panel discussion, Skepticism in the Media, this December 3rd in Melbourne. The panel will delve into science in the media, how to spot deceptive headlines and more.

https://skepticon.org.au/speaker/melissa-davey/

Melissa is medical editor of The Guardian and in 2019 received the Walkley Foundation June Andrews Award for Women’s Leadership in Media, for her work investigating gynaecologist Dr. Emil Shawky Gayed. The impact of her work was highly significant, with a Walkley judge commenting:

She revealed a systemic bias against women patients, which contributed to a failure to stop these abuses. The stories forced medical authorities to investigate and to suspend the doctor. Davey now leads sessions for doctors on the dangers of ignoring women’s health complaints.

Melissa is Guardian Australia’s Melbourne Bureau chief. In August 2020 Scribe published her book The Case of George Pell: reckoning with child sexual abuse by clergy. David Marr writes of the compelling read:

At last, the secret trials of George Pell are revealed in compelling detail by one of the very few who was there throughout. With unmatched authority, Melissa Davey answers the questions that haven’t gone away: why was the cardinal found guilty, and why was he then set free?

In 2023 Davey led an investigation into concussion in sport, including an examination of the spurious scientific evidence informing concussion guidelines. This work prompted further investigations and an apology from the AFL to players. Melissa and her colleagues consequently won the Grant Hattam Quill award for investigative journalism.

Presently, Melissa is halfway through completing her masters of Public Health. You can catch the panel discussion along with many other stimulating presentations during Skepticon 2023 over the first weekend in December. Live and online tickets are available.