The National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) supports the timely and complete immunization of all infants, children, adolescents, and adults to maximize the health and wellbeing of all people. According to the World Health Organization, routine childhood immunizations prevent as many as three million deaths per year. We are deeply concerned that political rhetoric is devaluing the significance of immunizations for individual children and families, like the family who lost their child to measles in West Texas yesterday, and for our country’s public health. NAPNAP actively opposes any change in federal or state policies that will deny children and families equitable access to vaccines.

Vaccines save lives. They are thoroughly researched and evaluated before being licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in the U.S. Further, independent experts to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Council on Immunization Practices review scientific data to provide recommendations on the administration of licensed vaccines. There are provider and patient surveillance systems in place so that the government and manufacturers can track reported side effects and health concerns over time and take action if or when necessary.

NAPNAP has been and will continue to advocate for immunization policies based on widely accepted scientific evidence. We applaud our chapter legislative chairs for their advocacy on specific state-based bills related to immunization policies and exemptions. We also appreciate the incredible information network that our Immunization SIG leaders support on a daily basis.

We urge every NAPNAP member to understand immunization policies in your state and call or email your elected leaders to share your professional expertise and clinical experience about the benefits of timely and complete immunization of all children.

 

Feb. 27, 2025