Let us share a bit about who we are. We’re the healthcare professionals you rely on, caring for your health and your family’s health through all life stages. From the early checkups for infants to pregnancy care, through managing chronic illnesses and aging, our team includes family doctors, pediatricians, internists, OB-GYNs, and specialists in infectious diseases. Our focus is entirely on our patients’ well-being and ensuring they receive the best evidence-based care, not any political agenda.
And right now, we have a collective, urgent message: Vaccines are effective, safe, and they save lives. Immunizations have been among the most thoroughly studied elements of public health and, through extensive vaccination efforts, we’ve eradicated diseases that once caused severe illness and death for countless individuals.
However, this legacy is in jeopardy today.
The rise of misinformation, the politicization of straightforward public health measures, and abrupt shifts in federal vaccine guidelines are causing widespread confusion and eroding trust in public health initiatives. As we approach another fall season likely impacted by flu, Covid-19, RSV, and the concerning resurgence of diseases like measles and pertussis, the risk could not be greater. These illnesses aren’t mere statistical threats; they directly affect our most vulnerable—infants, the elderly, pregnant individuals, and those with pre-existing health conditions.
We’re the doctors you turn to when alarming news strikes, whether it’s a child diagnosed with pneumonia caused by RSV or a pregnant woman facing complications from preventable viruses like Covid-19. These are your loved ones—parents, grandparents, infants, children, and neighbors. They represent individuals we care for every day.
During these uncertain times, the role of trusted physicians is essential. Patients look to us for facts grounded in medical education and extensive scientific review. They depend on our expertise to help sift through contradictory information in social media and politically charged narratives.
So, to be clear: Our organizations will continue to strongly advocate for vaccines. We will engage with patients and families in clinics, schools, and communities about what measures are safe and crucial for maintaining health and building immunity among populations.
We also urge our partners in the healthcare system—such as insurers, hospitals, pharmacies, and public health agencies—to take action. Vaccines need to remain accessible, available, and affordable for everyone. Any obstacle to immunization poses a real threat to public health.
We’ve seen the consequences when access falters. Drops in vaccination rates lead to outbreaks. History indicates that a decline in trust in science allows preventable diseases to resurge, causing unnecessary suffering.
This is why we refuse to be silent. We will continue to voice our truth to policymakers. We will have heartfelt, honest discussions with families making healthcare choices and provide reliable, scientifically sound information amidst the sea of misinformation. Our duty extends beyond care; we have a responsibility to lead. Many of our organizations are collaborating to ensure our patients and members have trustworthy guidance when credible information is scarce.
We need strong, scientifically backed public health leadership to guide our nation forward. Immunizations protect more than just individuals; they safeguard communities, keeping kids in school, workers employed, ensuring hospital beds are available, and preventing tragic losses from serious diseases.
We cannot afford to gamble with the health of our patients or communities. It’s crucial to rely on what we, as medical professionals and experts, know works through decades of evidence. This moment calls for clarity, consistency, and courage. Every health care leader must stand firmly in support of the science and the vaccines that save lives.
We’re not going anywhere, and we will relentlessly advocate for what is right.
