FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 28, 2025
Media Contact:
Julie Hirschhorn
AAFP Public Relations
jhirschhorn@aafp.org
Statement attributed to:
Jen Brull, MD, FAAFP
President, American Academy of Family Physicians
“Vaccines are safe, effective and save lives. The COVID-19 vaccine has significantly reduced hospitalizations and deaths across all age groups. The recent announcement of intended changes to the recommended immunization schedule for children and pregnant persons circumvents the established process for vaccine review and recommendations and, if fully implemented, would be a dangerous setback. We protect public health by allowing trusted experts with backgrounds in science and medicine to review data and make recommendations for what vaccines should be included in the Vaccines for Children program and in recommendations for other groups – not by allowing non-clinicians to make unilateral decisions.
Vaccines play a crucial role in protecting vulnerable groups, especially children and pregnant patients and their caregivers, against disease. These changes would also undermine access, impact insurance coverage and impede progress made toward improving public health. We urge patients to talk with their family physician and make decisions based on trusted, evidence-based care.”
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About American Academy of Family Physicians
Founded in 1947, the AAFP represents 128,300 physicians and medical students nationwide. It is the largest medical society devoted solely to primary care. Family physicians conduct approximately one in five office visits — that’s 192 million visits annually or 48 percent more than the next most visited medical specialty. Today, family physicians provide more care for America’s underserved and rural populations than any other medical specialty. Family medicine’s cornerstone is an ongoing, personal patient-physician relationship focused on integrated care. To learn more about the specialty of family medicine and the AAFP's positions on issues and clinical care, visit www.aafp.org. For information about health care, health conditions and wellness, please visit the AAFP’s consumer website, www.familydoctor.org.