The appointment and pending appointments of several high-profile public health figures by President Donald J. Trump to his administration could portend pause or even suspension of mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines. Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, nominated to lead the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has signed a petition advocating for a pause and reevaluation of mRNA vaccines. Additionally, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy is considering United Kingdom-based cardiologist Dr. Aseem Malhotra for a role as a senior advisor. Dr. Malhotra has publicly called for the COVID-19 vaccines to be suspended and reassessed.
Concerns over the vaccines and their ties to cases of myocarditis and Guillain-Barre syndrome appear to be the primary consideration a potential suspension. Evidence of excess deaths from the vaccine will also likely be examined. A complete ban on the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines would require action by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), revoking their approval on safety or efficacy grounds.
Meanwhile, legislation to ban mRNA vaccines is being considered in states like Idaho and Montana. The discussion comes amid declining COVID-19 mortality rates and a significant decrease in pandemic-related deaths since the vaccine rollout. In confirmation hearings, Kennedy also expressed uncertainty about the vaccines’ efficacy, citing a lack of comprehensive surveillance data.
