Viewpoint: ‘Sending science backward’—MAGA fuels a culture war against life-saving mRNA vaccines

US health agency leadership and policymakers seem intent on undermining trust in mRNA, the technology that saved millions of lives during the Covid pandemic and has shown promise in addressing a range of infectious diseases and even cancer.

[S]ince Trump took office, multiple states have introduced legislation — some defeated, some pending — targeting mRNA vaccines. Policymakers in Idaho, Iowa and Montana attempted to ban mRNA vaccines altogether (the measure in Montana ultimately failed). Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said this month he would seek to ban mRNA vaccine mandates permanently.

All of these actions by state and federal leaders don’t just set up barriers but feed mistrust around mRNA that could affect attitudes about the safety and value of all shots, whether for Covid, bird flu or other diseases. That’s sending science backward and will ultimately be harmful to the American public.