top of page
Search

A Win for Vaccinations - Poster of the Week

  • Writer: politicalgraphics
    politicalgraphics
  • Mar 20
  • 3 min read

Left: What Would You Like to be When You Grow Up? Alive!, United Nations Children's Fund, Photo: John Henebry, Jr., Offset, Circa 1980s, United States, 49409

Right: ¡Queremos Crecer Sanos! (We want to grow healthy! Vaccination is prevention!), Jornadas Populares de Salud, Offset, 1980-1981, Nicaragua, 51943

Left: Queres Ter Saúde? Vacina-te! (Do you want to have health? Get vaccinated! Vaccinate and Fight Against Tuberculosis, Tetanus, Polio, Measles, Diphtheria, Whooping Cough), Ministerio da Saude / D.N.M.P., Offset, Circa 1980s, Mozambique, 53690

Right: Attention: Have you vaccinated your child?, UNICEF; Family Health Agency; Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, Offset, 1987, Lebanon, 61902


Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s (RFK Jr.) has thrown science out the window. He has replaced experienced public health officials with vaccine sceptics, eliminated 17,000 HHS jobs, claimed that Tylenol causes autism, suggested Covid was a bioweapon designed to attack non-Jewish and non-Chinese people, blamed school shootings on anti-depressants, and has cut funds and staff to critical public health departments that research dangerous diseases and epidemics. And this is just the short list!


RFK Jr.’s persistent efforts to undermine years of extensively researched scientific progress have had real results. Measles was virtually eliminated from the U.S. in 2000, but vaccine skepticism has led to the largest measles outbreak the U.S. has seen in over 35 years. The vast majority of cases are children, and in the past year at least 3 have died unnecessarily from this preventable disease.


In January, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (under the HHS) introduced a policy that would have reduced the number of immunizations recommended for children from 11 to 17. The new schedule put restrictions on vaccines for rotavirus, hepatitis A and B, meningitis, and seasonal flu. Rotavirus kills over 400,000 children under 5 worldwide. Hepatitis B killed 1.1 million people worldwide in 2022. In 2019, meningitis killed 236,222 people. 


Fortunately, on Monday, U.S. District Court Judge Brian Murphy blocked RFK Jr.’s efforts to overhaul U.S. vaccine policy. The ruling also temporarily blocks all decisions made by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)–a body currently filled with RFK Jr.-appointed vaccine skeptics. While RFK Jr. and the Trump administration will undoubtedly appeal the decision, it is encouraging that there are still civil servants willing to stand up for science, health, and truth. 


Vaccines are safe, and over the past 50 years, global infant deaths have dropped 40% thanks to immunization. CSPG’s Posters of the Week celebrate global vaccination efforts that have contributed to saving the lives of more than 154 million children since 1976.

References:














bottom of page