When Politicians Play Doctor: How Political Interference is Undermining Vaccine Innovation

Last week, the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) delayed the decision on clearing Novavax’s COVID-19 Vaccine, even though it was on track to being cleared. Adding on, this pressure is now casting onto Moderna’s newest vaccination: mRNA-1083, set to revolutionize the medical industry by combining a flu shot and COVID-19 vaccination. Although Moderna and Novavax’s technology has been used by other known brands and has been proven to be safe, they are still being lodged into uncertainty due to political opinion- but since when do politicians constitute as medical professionals?

In June, Moderna released data proving that mRNA-1083 was safer and more effective in preventing the influenza virus. Dr. Rituparna Das has said that the potential for creating this combo shot will alleviate the respiratory viruses and their pressures on the hospital system. Combo shots are not fairly new and are in fact very common, such as the mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR) and the DTaP vaccine. However, the delayed regulatory action has halted the use of these super vaccines.

Unlike traditional COVID-19 shots with protein-based technology, Moderna’s mRNA-1083 uses messenger RNA to direct cells to create proteins that are recognized and defined against both influenza and COVID-19. Because of the mRNA technology, Republicans in Florida, Idaho, and Texas are working to ban the vaccinations claiming there are more public health risks and messing with mRNA can cause “turbo cancers”. When debating about science, one question arises- When did politicians go to medical school? The short answer is, most of them did not.

Christopher Ridley, a spokesperson for Moderna, claimed the theories are largely a product of “misunderstandings” about how the technology works and its safety. A bill in Idaho describes the vaccines as a “human gene therapy product,” an inaccurate label since the shots don’t alter human DNA. “If enacted, these measures could hinder important research and limit patient access to innovative treatments, potentially delaying life-changing medical advancements.”

In short, political interference with vaccinations should not be tolerated by the USFDA. Taking accounts of uneducated politicians in the medical field will only lead to more problems, as seen in the Trump incident where he encouraged people to drink bleach as a cure to COVID-19. Moving forward in vaccination advancements will put society forward in beating humanity’s most dangerous predator: illness. Regular vaccinations and doctor appointments are the only way to fight these illnesses to prevent another pandemic. “I’d rather much have this vaccine than have this virus” – Paul A. Volberding.