How many of us worry about contracting polio, smallpox, or typhoid? Thanks to the incredible success of vaccines, these diseases are a distant memory for most Americans. The public health security we take for granted is now under direct threat.

With a vaccine skeptic now leading the Department of Health and Human Services, our nation’s health system is being undermined. In Maine, current federal guidance has created so much confusion that it is nearly challenging for many to get a COVID-19 shot, with pharmacies and providers now restricting access.

This is not an isolated incident. In Florida, state officials are pushing to eliminate vaccine mandates, including those required for schoolchildren. This reckless “Make America Healthy Again” initiative could lead to preventable deaths and outbreaks of diseases we once thought were vanquished. The time to speak up for science and public health is now, before we return to a time of unnecessary pain, disability and death.

Janet Campagna
Wells