Despite a record number of American children dying from the flu last year, the percentage of kids getting their flu shots keeps falling.
In new data posted this week by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 37% of kids had received the vaccine as of Nov. 30—down from 43% at the same time last year.
This decline is raising concerns among pediatricians, who are already seeing an uptick in flu cases this season.
by Emily Clancy
By Susan Lontine, executive director, and Stephanie James, PhD, board chair
President-Elect Trump has announced that he plans to appoint Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the head of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Given RFK Jr.’s long, egregious history of undermining science and promoting conspiracy theories, particularly regarding vaccines, this is not only a deeply troubling choice, but one that will undoubtedly put lives—including those of Coloradans—at risk.
HHS, the nation’s top health agency, oversees several agencies including the CDC and the FDA—two entities responsible for administering the nation’s vaccine program, including authorizing vaccines, making vaccine schedule recommendations, and monitoring vaccine safety.
RFK Jr. is one of the most prominent vaccine conspiracy theorists in the country. He has no scientific background or training, but that hasn’t stopped him from amplifying claims that HIV doesn’t cause AIDS, antidepressants cause school shootings and chemicals in water are making kids gay and transgender. He is perhaps most infamous for promoting the false, fabricated claim that vaccines cause autism in children (dozens of studies have settled this claim and the science is clear: they don’t).
His nonprofit organization, Children’s Health Defense, profited greatly during the pandemic, raking in over $23 million in 2022 by promoting junk science. In 2021, a Center for Countering Digital Hate report named him one of the top 12 spreaders of online vaccine disinformation. On a podcast released in 2023, he claimed that “there’s no vaccine that’s safe and effective.” And in 2020, he came to Colorado to oppose a bill to standardize and strengthen the state’s school-required vaccine exemption process. Clearly, this is not the resume of a man who should be playing a role in making America’s health decisions.
If appointed to head HHS, RFK Jr. could use his power to debilitate federal vaccine programs (like those that provide free vaccines to millions of uninsured kids and adults), attempt to roll back vaccine requirements in schools and hospitals, spread harmful vaccine disinformation, and further erode trust in vaccines and public health. This will open the doors for large outbreaks of dangerous diseases like measles and pertussis. There have already been triple the number of pertussis cases (544) in 2024 than in all of 2023 in Colorado. This would be especially detrimental for the most vulnerable people in our communities, like young babies, people with weak immune systems, and older adults—those who directly benefit from high vaccination rates and community immunity. In short, RFK Jr.’s appointment would threaten, not protect, America’s health.
The benefits vaccines have afforded humanity are monumental. Over the past five decades, vaccines have saved over 154 million lives worldwide and prevented untold suffering. Between 1994 and 2021, the U.S.’s Vaccines for Children program has saved $2.2 trillion in society costs. And in Colorado, annual flu vaccination alone is estimated to save $68 million in hospital and emergency department visit costs. Vaccines are also thoroughly tested and constantly monitored for safety. In fact, we evaluate and monitor their safety more than we do for just about any other medication and certainly more than vitamins and supplements. Vaccination is already facing challenges, with rates declining since the pandemic. Only 88% of Colorado’s kindergarteners are current with measles vaccination, ranking the state 45th in the nation. The last thing
we need is the nation’s top health official questioning vaccines’ safety, efficacy and importance based on false claims.
Our nation’s leaders should work to build trust in healthcare, not undermine it. Even if RFK Jr. is ultimately not confirmed, his visibility as one of Trump’s appointees, and that of his unfounded claims, will have given vaccine conspiracy theories an even more pronounced national platform. The mistrust he has and will continue to sow will further erode public trust in vaccines and put Coloradans’ lives directly at risk. Damage has already been done.
As leaders in immunization, we remain committed to fortifying our vaccine systems against misinformation, no matter where it comes from, and building public trust to ensure our Colorado communities stay safe and protected. We cannot relent in our efforts, and we know others will join us.
Flu activity spiked in states across the U.S. during the last week of November, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Data from FluView, a weekly collaborative effort between the CDC and numerous health and statistical workers across the country, shows the virus’ activity level climbing in numerous states, many in the southern half of the U.S.
Texas, Nevada, California, Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee all went from low levels to moderate levels as of estimated activity, with Arizona, Louisiana, Georgia and Washington D.C. at high levels.
Peak protection from vaccines takes around 2 weeks to ramp up, so NOW is the perfect time.
Go get your flu, COVID, and RSV vaccines NOW to be protected for the holidays.
Peak protection from vaccines takes around 2 weeks to ramp up, so now is the perfect time. No one wants to fall ill right before a big holiday family gathering. You also don’t want to be the one to infect grandparents, babies, or otherwise vulnerable loved ones.
Vaccines are one of the best tools we have to stay safe, but only if we use them!
At least 364 pertussis infections were reported to health authorities last week, according to figures published Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, marking the worst Thanksgiving week for whooping cough in recent decades.
This tops the previous Thanksgiving record of 228 cases of pertussis which were reported for the week ending Nov. 27, 2010. That year there were 27,550 cases reported by the end of 2010, below the 28,167 already tallied so far this year.
Cervical cancer deaths among women younger than 25 have plummeted in recent years, the likely result of vaccinating adolescents against human papillomavirus, or HPV, high-risk strains of which cause the cancer, researchers said.
“This is a huge public-health success story,” said Ashish Deshmukh, co-leader of the cancer prevention and control research program at the Medical University of South Carolina’s (MUSC) Hollings Cancer Center, and senior author of research recently published in JAMA Network. “Vaccination is the only explanation for this startling and substantial decline.”
A large multistate study, conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) VISION Network, has found that COVID-19 vaccination given during pregnancy offered 52% protection, cutting risk of a COVID-19-associated emergency department or urgent care visit in half. This is especially significant because there is an increased risk of severe COVID-19 during pregnancy requiring hospitalization and potentially causing adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Despite a relatively slow start to respiratory disease season, low vaccination rates threaten that trend and the rapid rise of some illnesses is already putting children at increased risk.
Overall, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicts that this season could be similar — or even better — than the last, but the peak rate of respiratory virus hospitalizations will likely be well above what they typically were in years before the Covid-19 pandemic.
During the fall and winter months, respiratory infections such as flu, COVID-19, and RSV can surge. People who are vaccinated lower their risk of getting seriously ill and needing medical care if they get infected. About 70% of adults in the United States say they probably or definitely will get a flu shot, and over 50% say they probably or definitely will get an updated COVID-19 vaccine. While many people are ready to get this season’s vaccines, others might still have questions.
With the cold weather and the holidays, you’re likely spending more time indoors with family and friends. It’s also likely you or someone you’re celebrating with hasn’t gotten the flu vaccine or the COVID-19 shot.
“When people are out of work and out of school and sort of congregating, it’ll promote the spread of it,” said Dr. Michelle Barron, the senior medical director of Infection Prevention at UCHealth.
