- Advocacy
2022 Pro-Vaccine Wins
Posted on December 28, 2022
It Takes Everyone’s Voice and SAFE’s Active Voice, Made a Difference
Vaccine and public health policies are primarily decided on a state and local level. The growing anti-vaccine movement in our government, combined with the uncertain times of the COVID-19 pandemic, created an environment in which public health authority was under attack. An alarming volume of legislation nationwide was proposed in 2022 that threatened the policies keeping us all safe from a number of vaccine-preventable diseases.
Luckily, the 2022 election cycle was a year that also saw pro-vaccine electoral wins. First, our congratulations go out to all the candidates SAFE endorsed for state legislative offices. We are proud of the campaigns they ran and trust that they will bring the pro-science message to their peers. Nationwide, pro-vaccine Governors were also re-elected in states including Ohio, Maine, New Mexico, Vermont, and Wisconsin. Three states elected pediatricians to their state legislatures, as well as one to Congress. Medical professionals, folks with science backgrounds, and everyday people who trust science and want to keep our communities safe were elected across the country.
Anti-vaccine groups also suffered critical losses in Arizona and Pennsylvania. Candidates for governor in both states were endorsed by anti-vaccine groups, and both lost! Although their opponents were not endorsed by SAFE, this is a massive win for the pro-vaccine community. We hope to continue the trend in the future.
Electing public health champions from both sides of the aisle and reaching out to your elected officials is the most effective way to stem the tide of misinformation in our state houses. While the 2023 legislative session will likely be challenging, we are confident that many champions hold office. We encourage you to contact your local elected officials, welcome them to the 2023 legislative session, and let them know that you, as a constituent, value strong vaccine and public health policy.
The anti-vaccine movement is persistent, but we have the majority and science on our side.
SAFE (Science and Families Engaging) Communities Coalition supports pro-vaccine legislation and lawmakers. They empower everyday people, the often silent pro-vaccine majority, to advocate for health and safety alongside medical and public health professionals.
SAFE works closely with allies, including healthcare providers, scientists, nonprofits, industry partners, advocates for children, and underserved populations to go the final mile in pro-vaccine advocacy. They recruit and train advocates, building capacity so the pro-vaccine majority can stand with the experts, educating lawmakers about science and the imperative to protect public health.
To learn more about SAFE visit https://safecommunitiescoalition.org or contact info@safecommunitiescoalotion.org
