1. United States
2. Ind.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to oppose any attempt to eliminate childhood vaccine mandates in our state. Rolling back these requirements would put children, families, and entire communities at unnecessary risk, and it is based on misinformation rather than sound science. Vaccines are one of the greatest public health achievements of the last century. They have nearly eradicated once-devastating diseases like polio and measles, and they continue to save lives every day. The overwhelming majority of medical professionals and scientists agree that vaccines are safe and effective. While no medical intervention is completely risk-free, the risks from vaccines are extremely rare and far smaller than the risks posed by the diseases they prevent. Eliminating mandates would reverse decades of progress. We’ve already seen what happens when vaccination rates drop: outbreaks of measles, whooping cough, and other preventable illnesses reemerge, hospitalizing children and endangering those who cannot be vaccinated due to medical reasons. These individuals rely on the protection of herd immunity, which only exists when vaccination rates remain high. It is also important to note that vaccine misinformation has been widely debunked. Claims linking vaccines to autism or other chronic illnesses have been thoroughly disproven through extensive research. Continuing to give these myths legislative weight only spreads fear and undermines trust in proven public health measures. Our communities deserve policies rooted in science, not misinformation. Maintaining vaccine requirements for school attendance ensures that classrooms remain safe, children can learn without preventable disruptions, and families don’t face avoidable medical crises. Please stand with the evidence, with our children, and with the long tradition of protecting public health. I urge you to reject any proposal that weakens childhood vaccine mandates. Thank you for your leadership and commitment to keeping our communities safe.