Preserve broad access to updated COVID vaccines for all

The proposal to restrict access to updated COVID vaccines only for high-risk groups is misguided and threatens the health of many Americans, including healthcare workers on the front lines. This policy shift is impractical, ignoring the realities of how annual vaccine updates work. Requiring new randomized controlled trials each year before approving updated formulations would render these annual vaccines obsolete by the time studies complete, as the circulating strains would have already evolved. Healthcare workers like myself routinely interact with severely immunocompromised patients, posing risks if we are unable to receive the latest COVID boosters. Reducing viral transmission in healthcare settings is crucial for protecting vulnerable patients. COVID vaccines offer partial protection that stacks with other precautions, helping minimize the chances of unknowingly exposing high-risk individuals during a highly contagious respiratory season. This policy undermines those protective measures. Furthermore, COVID vaccines reduce the risk of long COVID, a debilitating condition affecting even healthy young adults. As a healthcare worker, avoiding illness improves my ability to consistently provide quality patient care without disruptions. Many other countries recognize this importance by continuing to recommend COVID vaccines for healthcare personnel. Rather than restoring trust, this abrupt shift circumventing normal review processes will likely breed further distrust and confusion around COVID vaccine policies. More transparency and stakeholder involvement is needed to create reasonable, evidence-based vaccine recommendations that prioritize public health. I urge you to advocate for preserving broad access to these important vaccines for all Americans who wish to receive them.