Time is running out. The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is accepting public comments now, and your voice is urgently needed. 

RFK Jr.’s ACIP poses a serious threat to children’s vaccine access. His appointees—selected specifically for their anti-vaccine positions—now have the authority to reshape the recommendations families, clinicians, and communities rely on to stay protected. The upcoming meeting could trigger sweeping consequences for how Americans access vaccines and receive accurate, science-based information about immunizations. We need every pro-vaccine advocate to speak up now. 

Use the form below to submit a brief comment. It’s important to write a comment in your own words because those statements are considered more seriously than form statements. Please refer to our talking points below the form and add your own perspective.

The deadline is Nov. 24 — please submit your comment today.

We are calling on fellow Tennesseans to add your voice to a critical message to our Governor and the Tennessee General Assembly.

As efforts in other states threaten to roll back long-standing vaccine protections for school-aged children, we must stand firm in our commitment to science-based public health policy. The letter below urges our lawmakers to reject any attempt to weaken Tennessee's school immunization requirements and to affirm the importance of vaccines in keeping our classrooms and communities safe.

By signing on, you help demonstrate broad, bipartisan support for maintaining these essential protections. Your voice matters—and together, we can ensure Tennessee continues to prioritize the health and safety of all children.

Please read the letter below and add your name in solidarity.

Thank you for taking action! You all are amazing! Our letter was sent to lawmakers with the signatures of 402 Tennesseans! On Wednesday, the Senate version of the bill passed. It was amended to remove exceptions for physicians specializing in oncology and organ transplant, and to add language about religious exemption. As passed in the Senate, a healthcare provider participating in TennCare or CoverKids would be prohibited from refusing to provide medical services to an enrollee based upon refusing vaccination if the patient (or patient's parent) has a religious or moral objection to the vaccine or immunization.

The legislation will now be on the House floor. Rep. Carringer's version of the bill is a bit different. It also includes the amendment making it related to religious or moral objection, but instead of removing the exceptions for oncology and organ transplant, it adds an exception for specialists who treat immunocompromised patients. We MUCH prefer the House version of the bill. The House will now decide whether to conform to the Senate version or hold strong to theirs. If the House does not conform to the Senate, it will be sent to what is called a "Conference Committee." In that committee, anything can happen to the language of the bill, and then both the House and Senate will vote on whether to accept the Conference Committee Report outlining the final agreed upon version of the bill.

What can you do now?

* Thank Senators Akbari, Briggs, Campbell, Kyle, Lamar, Oliver, and Yarbro for voting against SB1389.

* Thank Senator Akbari Akbari for speaking up on the Senate floor to oppose the bill.

* Thank Rep. Carringer for her amendments to HB638 and encourage her to remain firm in her conviction not to conform to the Senate version of the bill.

This bill will undermine public trust in the Tennessee Department of Health by limiting the expert guidance Tennesseans rely on. Our health professionals interpret data from agencies like the FDA or CDC to provide clear, evidence-based information that helps keep our families and communities safe. At a time when trust in federal health organizations is already wavering, we should support, not restrict, our state health department's ability to provide reliable information. Ask committee members to support our health experts and protect their ability to serve Tennesseans by voting NO on HB1157/SB1031, the Restore Trust in Public Health Messaging Act.

Click the image to take action.