1. United States
2. N.C.
3. Letter

Today I'm writing to urge you to ensure universal access to COVID vaccines. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s policies as HHS Secretary, particularly restricting vaccine access for children and pregnant people, are inappropriate and harmful, directly contributing to ongoing COVID hospitalizations and deaths. Vaccination rates are critically low, leading to preventable outbreaks like measles and pertussis. Children and pregnant individuals shouldn't suffer from preventable diseases due to lack of affordable, effective vaccines. COVID vaccines reduce severe disease and death for all ages. RFK Jr.'s restrictions create barriers and confusion, undermining public health. I request your support for reinstating universal, twice-yearly COVID vaccine recommendations for all ages and formulations. Furthermore, new RFK Jr.-appointed members to the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) lack crucial expertise. This impacts vaccine access and insurance coverage. I ask that you demand the reinstatement of the 17 former ACIP members. RFK Jr.'s inexperience, promotion of vaccine conspiracy theories, and financial conflicts of interest are undermining public health. I respectfully request you hold him accountable by demanding a public hearing to ensure his support for evidence-based public health approaches and vaccines.