To the Editor:

As pediatric healthcare providers, we are privileged to care for families through every stage of childhood—and one of the most essential parts of our work is ensuring that children receive their vaccines on time, every time.

National Infant Immunization Week, observed this year from April 21–28, is a reminder of how far we’ve come in the fight against once-devastating diseases, and how much is at stake if we let our guard down. The modern immunization schedule is one of the most effective tools in medicine, developed through rigorous science to protect children when they are most vulnerable.

Here in Massachusetts, we are incredibly fortunate. Our state provides all recommended childhood vaccines free of charge to pediatric practices. That means families aren’t burdened by cost at the point of care, and healthcare providers like us aren’t forced to choose between protecting children and bearing enormous up-front costs to stock vaccines. It’s a model other states would do well to follow—and one that reflects our state’s commitment to public health.

But even with access, we face a growing challenge: misinformation and vaccine refusal. In recent months, we’ve seen alarming outbreaks of preventable diseases, like the measles outbreak centered in Texas, directly linked to declining vaccination rates. These are not just headlines—they are real children in real hospitals, suffering from diseases we know how to prevent.

Let’s be clear: measles, whooping cough, polio—these are not diseases of the past. They are waiting in the wings, ready to return whenever immunity slips below a critical level. And when parents choose to skip or delay vaccines, it doesn’t just affect their own child, it puts newborns, medically vulnerable children and adults, and whole communities at risk.

To protect the health of all citizens, states must reconsider allowing non-medical exemptions to school and daycare vaccine requirements, exemptions that include religious or philosophical objections. These exemptions, often based on misinformation rather than evidence or doctrine, weaken community immunity and increase the risk of outbreaks. Vaccination policy should be guided by science and public health, not personal belief.

We understand that parents want to make the best decisions for their children. That’s why we’re always here to listen, answer questions, and provide evidence-based guidance. But delaying or refusing vaccines doesn’t just increase a child’s risk—it erodes the community protection that keeps all of us safe.

This National Infant Immunization Week, we urge families to stay on schedule. Vaccines are safe, effective, and free. When we vaccinate every child on time, every time, we are investing in a healthier, safer future—not just for our own families, but for our entire community.

Steve Mendes, MD

Jason Reynolds, MD

Jennifer Russell, MD

Michelle Anderson, PNP

Elizabeth Coughlin, FNP

Amanda Conley, PNP

Kaitlyn Gibson, PNP

Kelly Flaherty, PNP

Catelyn Rueger, DO

Meghan Swinehart, MD