1. United States
2. Tenn.
3. Letter

Tennessee legislators must take urgent action to counter the reckless dismissal of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. This independent panel's expert review of vaccine data and evidence-based recommendations are critical for maintaining public trust and protecting our state's public health through immunization programs. Appointing members sympathetic to anti-vaccine views threatens to disrupt this trusted regulatory process, erode vaccination rates, and leave Tennesseans more vulnerable to outbreaks of preventable diseases like measles. Upholding scientific integrity and safeguarding public confidence in vaccines is vital to combat illness effectively. As representatives, you must demand qualified, objective experts on this panel to ensure Tennessee continues benefiting from sound, evidence-driven vaccine policymaking that prioritizes residents' well-being over politicization of science. Prompt action to counter this alarming overreach is imperative to shield our state's public health.