Ask AI
Back Back1

More Than Do No Harm: Advocating for Vaccines and Disease Prevention

Start Activity
Clinical Thought
Clinical Thought Start Activity
See Activity Information

Released: October 09, 2026

See Activity Collection

Step 1 of 2

1 ClinicalThought 2 Complete Activity

Perhaps like you, I entered the infectious disease field to help people overcome illnesses. However, it dawned on me early on that medicine’s highest calling is the prevention of disease. Vaccines are the epitome of disease prevention, both for individuals and for whole communities. Read on to learn how and why, as infectious disease specialists, we should be actively advocating for vaccines in our practices.

William Schaffner
William Schaffner, MD
Advocating for Vaccines

Continue

The Clinical Consequences of Declining Vaccination Rates
Back in 2000, robust vaccination efforts had essentially eliminated measles virus transmission within the United States. This was an extraordinary achievement, considering that it is among the most contagious viruses that we know of. But recent declines in measles vaccine uptake have led to waning population immunity. Outbreaks of this completely preventable disease are now occurring all across the country.

As these measles outbreaks tragically demonstrate, if we stop vaccinating, vaccine-preventable diseases will spread, causing increased illnesses, hospitalizations, intensive care unit admissions, and deaths. In addition to measles, there have been recent increases in pertussis, whooping cough, and tetanus. Other infectious diseases that I predict will rebound if vaccine uptake continues to decrease include rotavirus and Haemophilus influenzae type B.

The importance of robust vaccine uptake is especially clear when considering people with immune compromise. If these people become infected, they will likely develop serious illness. But some people with immune compromise are ineligible to receive live-attenuated vaccines, including the measles, mumps, rubella vaccine, and they may not mount adequate immune responses to the vaccines they can receive.

How do we protect these most vulnerable members of our population? By ensuring that the people around them are vaccinated. In doing so, we create a cocoon of protection. We have a responsibility to our own children and families, but we have also a shared, communal responsibility to protect the most vulnerable among us. Maintaining strong vaccine uptake is, therefore, not only about protecting ourselves, but it is also about protecting one another.

An Ounce of Prevention
Apart from the individuals affected by illness, reduced vaccine uptake also has consequences for health care delivery and costs, as already limited resources are diverted to manage diseases that could have been prevented in the first place. The more vaccine-preventable diseases occur, the greater the impact on emergency departments, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities.

From a public health point of view, and from my experiences working with my state health department, investigating and containing outbreaks requires substantial resources. Each case will require investigation, contact tracing, and appropriate interventions to prevent further transmission. This diverts resources from ongoing priorities and risks taking us back to, if you will, “the bad old days” when vaccine-preventable illnesses caused numerous hospital admissions and placed stress on both healthcare facilities and the public health system.

The Role of ID Specialists as Vaccine Advocates
In the United States, immunizations have traditionally been the province of primary care providers and the public health system. However, the standing that infectious disease (ID) specialists have in their communities as persons with expertise in this area can be a powerful platform for vaccine advocacy, enabling us to play an even more prominent role as advocates for immunization.  

First, we should consider what ID specialists can do at the systems level. In our hospitals and healthcare systems, we can be strong voices for vaccine advocacy. This role also translates into the broader community, as ID specialists are often members of local and state medical societies and can urge those organizations to be more vocal in promoting and supporting vaccination. We can also make ourselves available to speak, whether in a medical setting like grand rounds or at a community setting like a garden club. We should also respond to inquiries from the local media when the opportunity arises to advocate for vaccinations.

At the individual level, ID specialists can continue to advocate for and implement appropriate vaccinations during our consultations to make every visit a vaccine visit.

What first attracted me to medicine was the desire to help cure the sick and comfort the suffering. However, it dawned on me early on that medicine’s most noble and highest calling is the prevention of disease. Vaccines are the epitome of disease prevention not only for individuals, but for whole communities. We have the capacity to essentially eliminate diseases from entire populations. If that is not something we all ought to be striving for, I don't know what is.

To learn more about our role in helping with vaccine uptake, join me and my colleagues Rupali Limaye, PhD, MPH, MA, and Flor Munoz, MD, at our upcoming symposium, “Vax to the Future: The Leading Role of ID Specialists in a Time of Vaccine Hesitancy and Misinformation.” You can join us in Washington, DC, or virtually.

Your Thoughts
What is one thing you can do in your practice in the near future to advocate for vaccines? Leave a comment to join the discussion and register for our live event to learn more!

Continue