1,000 signatures reached
To: Congress
Fully fund vaccine programs
Measles is not a “harmless” illness, as some skeptics like to claim. It’s a highly contagious illness that can cause complications like pneumonia, brain damage, and even death.
However, it’s entirely preventable with a safe, effective, decades-old vaccine.
However, it’s entirely preventable with a safe, effective, decades-old vaccine.
But as vaccination rates are dropping in communities across the U.S., fueled by misinformation and chronic underinvestment in public health, the problem will only get worse. Health departments across the country rely on funding from both the VFC and Section 317 to track outbreaks, educate the public, or ensure that every child can get vaccinated
But if Congress continues to underfund these critical federal programs, then health departments across the country will continue to be stretched thin, and will be forced to make hard choices that will impact how they can serve our communities.
Why is this important?
Measles, once declared eliminated in the U.S., is making a devastating comeback with a vengeance.
In fact, the United States is experiencing one of the worst measles outbreaks in over three decades—with more than 1,200 cases already reported across the country this year.
Yet Congress continues to underfund two of the most essential vaccination programs in the country: Vaccines for Children (VFC) and Section 317 of the Public Health Service Act (PHSA). These programs provide free vaccines for children whose families can’t afford them, fund immunization infrastructure across states, and help keep preventable diseases like measles, from spreading unchecked.
The only way to stop this outbreak is to invest in vaccinations NOW!
Sign the petition now!
Sign the petition now!