The tragic measles death of a young child in Texas is a heartbreaking reminder that vaccine-preventable diseases are not just a thing of the past—they are a growing threat today. With widespread outbreaks across the country, the consequences of vaccine misinformation and reckless policies have never been clearer. This tragedy was preventable, and unless we take action now, it won’t be the last.

Measles, whooping cough, and other diseases we once controlled are surging because anti-vaccine activists and their allies in public office have worked tirelessly to discredit science, spread falsehoods about vaccines, and roll back the policies that keep us safe. Their goal is not just to cast doubt on experts—it’s to push dangerous legislation that makes it easier for preventable diseases to spread. SAFE Communities Coalition and our Families for Vaccines chapters are currently tracking hundreds of vaccine-related bills in statehouses across the country, many of which would make it harder for children to get vaccinated and easier for deadly diseases to spread.

Last week, pro-vaccine advocates sent 5,600 messages to lawmakers in West Virginia opposing an anti-vaccine bill that would weaken school immunization requirements and 3,500 messages to lawmakers in New Hampshire opposing a bill that would limit vaccine access throughout the state. This kind of engagement is happening all over, and it’s proof that we are not powerless. Lawmakers are hearing us, and our voices matter. This fight is playing out across the country, and we need every American to step up and contact their lawmakers to say:

• I support vaccines.

• I trust America’s doctors and scientists.

• I oppose dangerous policies that weaken vaccine requirements and put lives at risk.

While RFK Jr. and his allies claim that vaccination is a personal choice, that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Vaccines protect communities. The decision to forgo vaccination doesn’t just affect one person—it puts infants, cancer patients, the elderly, and countless others at risk. When vaccination rates drop, diseases come roaring back, and children die. That is the reality we are facing.

Instead of undermining our best experts or revisiting long-debunked conspiracy theories about vaccines and autism, federal and state leaders should be investing in real solutions—supporting research into the true causes of autism spectrum disorder, funding public health efforts, and making vaccines more accessible to every family. The public deserves leadership that prioritizes science, safety, and facts over fear-mongering and misinformation.

This is a pivotal moment. We cannot allow baseless distrust in science to determine our public health policies. The consequences are already unfolding in front of us, and without action, they will only get worse. Now is the time to speak up—for our children, our communities, and our future.