Rand Paul vs. ModeRNA In Case You Missed It A recent large study from England examined over 1.7 million children and teens and found that serious heart inflammation conditions called myocarditis and pericarditis occurred only in those who received the COVID vaccine, with zero cases among the unvaccinated in the study. These side effects were still very rare, and severe COVID illness was uncommon in young people overall, but even small risks mean families deserve fair options for help if harm occurs. This concern was highlighted in a 2023 Senate hearing where I directly questioned Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel about these risks, particularly the elevated chance of myocarditis in young males after vaccination, pointing out that Moderna's own president had privately acknowledged the increased risk while public statements did not. Right now, if a vaccine causes injury, you can't sue the company the same way you can for other drugs or products—instead, you're limited to a special government program that often restricts compensation and makes it harder to seek justice. That's why I introduced the End the Vaccine Carveout Act (S. 3853), cosponsored by Senator Mike Lee, to remove these special protections and let vaccine makers face the same accountability in regular court as any other company. No product should get a free pass just because it's called a vaccine—everyone deserves equal justice, transparency, and the ability to hold big companies responsible when real harm happens.
I truly hope Moderna continues to push the boundaries of medical innovation, especially with its work on cancer and flu vaccines. Advancements in mRNA technology have already shown incredible potential, and further breakthroughs could make a lasting impact on global health. Wishing them success in developing treatments that improve and save lives.
Moderna, please do your part to ensure that the vaccine is available to all. Since you received one billion dollars to develop the COVID-19 vaccine, it is now your turn to do the right thing. Participate in the WHO mRNA Technology Transfer hub to help scale up the COVID-19 vaccine across the globe!! We want this pandemic to end.
As a former Boston-area resident, I was happy to receive the Moderna vaccine, as I liked seeing a local Cambridge company do good. Their breakthrough mRNA technology is a boon to humanity. But our public dollars funded the research and have provided liability protection to the company as well. I can't understand then, why they would be so greedy as to not make the vaccine widely available to all, given that we've already paid for it? I believe to measure up to their vaccine, Moderna should cooperate with the WHO to scale up production of mRNA vaccines around the globe. No one should be left unvaccinated simply for being in a "poorer" country during this global pandemic.
Know your rights! A security guard yelled at us after we took a picture of the Moderna building, from across the street. She also ordered us to delete the photo. After doing some research, we realized that it’s our right to take pictures while on public ground. We weren’t even on Moderna’s side of the street. Good job on the vaccine, but why pay a security guard who abuses her (infinitesimal) power and harasses people?