1. United States
2. Ariz.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to demand a full investigation into Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s politicization of the CDC and the agency's recent changes to childhood immunization recommendations. These changes contradict established science and threaten the health of children across our state and nation. In 2025, the CDC released new childhood immunization schedule recommendations that no longer advise routine vaccination against flu, rotavirus, hepatitis A and B, certain types of meningitis, and RSV. These revisions were made behind closed doors without formal public comment or rigorous scientific expert input, and medical experts warn they may be illegal. The timing is particularly alarming given that these changes were released during a record-high surge in hospitalizations for flu-like respiratory illnesses. The consequences of these changes are severe and immediate. They will worsen the ongoing national decline in vaccination rates, putting more children at risk of preventable diseases. The new recommendations also reduce access to care by requiring unnecessary doctors' visits to obtain vaccines that were previously routine. This creates barriers for families who face scheduling difficulties, transportation challenges, or financial constraints. Additionally, these changes endanger insurance coverage for vaccines, potentially making them unaffordable for many families. Children should not be used as pawns in an ideological campaign against vaccines. Decades of scientific research have proven that childhood vaccinations are safe and effective at preventing serious illness, disability, and death. Rolling back these protections based on political pressure rather than scientific evidence is unconscionable. I urge you to take immediate action by demanding a comprehensive investigation into how these changes were made, who was involved in the decision-making process, and what scientific justification was provided. Our children's health depends on evidence-based public health policy, not political interference. Please stand up for the families in your district and ensure that vaccination policy remains grounded in science.