1. United States
2. Nev.
3. Letter

I am writing as a concerned constituent and advocate for public health to express my strong opposition to the Department of Health and Human Services’ recent policy mandating placebo-controlled trials for all new vaccines . While transparency and rigorous evaluation are vital in medical research, this blanket requirement raises significant ethical and practical concerns. Placebo-controlled trials are appropriate when no existing effective intervention is available. However, insisting on such trials for vaccines where effective alternatives already exist—such as those for measles or polio—would necessitate withholding proven protection from participants, which is ethically indefensible . Moreover, this policy could delay the approval and availability of updated vaccines, including those for COVID-19, by requiring new placebo-based trials even for minor modifications . Such delays are particularly troubling amid ongoing public health challenges. I urge you to advocate against this policy and support evidence-based approaches that uphold ethical standards and ensure timely access to safe and effective vaccines. Thank you for your attention to this critical matter.