Ami Bera Leads Lawmakers In Criticizing FDA’s COVID-19 Vaccine Policy

India-West News Desk

WASHINGTON, DC – Representative Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA), a physician and former member of the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, has strongly criticized the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) new policy that restricts updated COVID-19 vaccine approvals largely to older adults and individuals with underlying health conditions.

“As a doctor and your Member of Congress, my number one priority is keeping Sacramento County families safe and healthy,” Bera said. “I understand the health and economic concerns many families continue to face. We cannot afford to weaken our pandemic response when so many are still vulnerable.”

Bera emphasized the lingering impact of COVID-19 on working families—many of whom are still coping with reduced incomes and job insecurity—and urged constituents to stay informed and access available health and economic support.

Joining Bera in a May 27 joint statement, Representatives Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-25), Deborah Ross (NC-02), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Debbie Dingell (MI-12), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Robert Garcia (CA-42), and Jill Tokuda (HI-02) also voiced concern, warning that the FDA’s new policy marks a troubling step backward.

“We find it perplexing that this new guidance undermines the foundational principles of Operation Warp Speed—a program launched under the Trump administration—which successfully accelerated vaccine development and saved millions of lives,” the group stated.

The lawmakers warned that the FDA’s requirement for more extensive clinical trials in low-risk populations could delay access to updated vaccines for much of the public. “This change risks leaving broad segments of the population without essential vaccine updates, ultimately making the nation more vulnerable to future outbreaks.”

They urged the FDA to adopt a more inclusive, science-based approach that ensures equitable access for all Americans, regardless of age or health status. “Robust vaccination efforts are essential to safeguarding public health and preventing future surges,” the statement concluded.