There has been much discussion about the vaccines that can be developed using mRNA. Most recently, of course, has been the vaccine against Covid-19. I encourage every patient to make their own decisions about getting any vaccine, but I also want anyone to make their choice based on good scientific information. What prompted me to write this article was the decision of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to cancel $500 million dollars in mRNA research funding. To be clear, mRNA medicine has only recently entered the public eye, but the research and development is decades old. Scientific data has demonstrated the efficacy of mRNA vaccines.
mRNA is a piece of genetic material which tells the body what type of protein it should make. In the case of the Covid-19 vaccine it tells the body to make a harmless piece of protein found on the Covid-19 virus, triggering an immune response. During the recent pandemic, Covid-19 vaccine prevented millions of deaths worldwide. In 2023, unvaccinated patients were 6 times more likely to be hospitalized and 12 times more likely to die from a Covid-19 infection.
The potential uses of mRNA are not limited to infectious or respiratory diseases. Current research shows that mRNA medicine may be used to fight cancers, including lung cancer. Vaccine development and distribution is the first line of defense for preventing infectious disease outbreaks. We should not be limiting promising research and making it less likely to be prepared for future health crises.
