1. United States
2. Tenn.
3. Letter

I am writing to express my deep concern over the decision to cancel $500 million in funding for the development of mRNA vaccines against viruses like influenza and COVID-19. This decision undermines our ability to combat future pandemics and protect public health effectively. mRNA vaccines have proven to be remarkably safe and highly effective tools in the fight against COVID-19, saving countless lives. They have a shorter development cycle, which is crucial for responding rapidly to emerging viral threats. By shifting funding away from this promising technology, we risk being ill-prepared for the next pandemic. Health experts have criticized this move, noting that mRNA vaccines remain one of our most promising defenses against respiratory viruses. Viruses mutate regardless of whether vaccines exist, so claims that mRNA vaccines encourage mutations are unfounded and contradict scientific evidence. I urge you to reconsider this decision and reinstate funding for mRNA vaccine development. Prioritizing unproven vaccine platforms over proven, life-saving technology is a dangerous gamble with public health. We must continue to invest in and leverage the latest scientific advancements to protect our communities from future viral threats.