1. United States
2. Letter

I am writing to urge you to oppose any FDA proposals that would restrict vaccine availability and prevent routine vaccine updates. Recent reports indicate the FDA is considering policy changes that could eliminate annual flu shots, end most vaccines for pregnant people, and halt updates to pneumonia vaccines. These proposals would represent a dangerous reversal of decades of public health progress. Annual flu vaccines are updated each year based on circulating strains and prevent thousands of deaths among vulnerable populations including seniors, young children, and immunocompromised individuals. Eliminating this capability would leave millions of Americans exposed to preventable illness and death. Vaccines for pregnant people protect both mothers and newborns from serious complications. Maternal vaccination against influenza and pertussis has been shown to reduce infant hospitalizations and mortality in the critical first months of life. Restricting access to these vaccines would put expectant mothers and their babies at unnecessary risk. The ability to update vaccines like those for pneumonia ensures they remain effective against evolving bacterial strains. Pneumococcal disease kills thousands of Americans annually, with older adults facing the highest risk. Preventing vaccine updates would render these protections increasingly obsolete and ineffective. I ask that you publicly oppose these FDA proposals and work with colleagues to ensure they do not move forward. Vaccines are one of the most successful public health interventions in history, and policies that restrict their development, updating, and distribution will cost lives. Your constituents depend on continued access to safe, effective, and current vaccines. Please communicate your position on this issue and what actions you plan to take to protect vaccine access and research funding.