Support for Science Based Vaccination Education and Protection of Public Health (2025)
WHEREAS, Vaccines are one of the most effective public health interventions, preventing the spread of infectious diseases and saving millions of lives each year, particularly among vulnerable populations such as children, seniors, and those with compromised immune systems; and
WHEREAS, Misinformation and deliberate disinformation about vaccines, including flu and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccines, have contributed to a decline in vaccination rates, posing a direct threat to public health. Misinformation and disinformation has been accelerated by reductions in the public health workforce to agencies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and others; and
WHEREAS, The United States faces ongoing health challenges, including seasonal flu outbreaks, RSV, measles, and other preventable diseases that disproportionately affect African American communities, children, and seniors, especially in the context of structural inequalities in healthcare access and education. Globally, we face the threat of otherwise-eradicated diseases, such as polio, as a result of low vaccination rates; and
WHEREAS, Attacks on vaccines, particularly from those leading our country's major healthcare agencies, especially those recommended for children and seniors, undermine scientific consensus and create unnecessary divisions that erode trust in public health systems; and
WHEREAS, The NAACP has a long history of advocating for science-based policies that address the health and safety of underserved communities and ensure that all individuals have access to accurate, evidence-based information.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:
- Support for Science-Based Vaccination Education: The NAACP calls for the promotion of science-based education about vaccines by local, state, and federal agencies, aimed at educating the public, especially African American communities, about the safety, effectiveness, and necessity of vaccines:
- Providing accessible, clear, and culturally competent information on vaccines that empowers families to make informed decisions about their health.
- Ensuring that information is provided by trusted healthcare professionals and community leaders, free from political bias and misinformation.
- Protection of Public Health and Safety: The NAACP advocates for policies that:
- Support and protect public health initiatives that promote universal vaccination, especially for children and seniors, to protect vulnerable populations from preventable diseases.
- Ensure that vaccine distribution is equitable, with a particular focus on historically marginalized communities that face barriers to healthcare access, such as African American and other communities of color.
- Ensure that vaccine distribution includes mobile vaccination efforts and partnerships with community-based organizations and local pharmacies, in addition to standard access through healthcare facilities.
- Support for Informed Decision-Making: The NAACP recognizes the importance of respecting families' rights to make informed decisions about vaccinations, and therefore:
- Supports healthcare professionals in their efforts to provide families with accurate, unbiased, and comprehensive information, so that they can make choices based on the best available evidence.
- Encourages open discussions within communities about vaccine safety, recognizing that informed decision-making should be supported by access.