As doctors try to reinforce need for vaccines, RFK Jr., continues to spread doubts

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has vaccines in the news again.

The U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary has a history of spreading doubt and misinformation around vaccines.

He wrapped up June by making false statements that pediatricians encourage vaccinations to make profits. Then he stunned the global health community by criticizing a worldwide health alliance as careless based on one old, flawed study.

A week ago, the American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Physicians and American Public Health Association sued Kennedy over recent changes to federal COVID-19 vaccination recommendations.

So what are the facts?

For children born between 1994 and 2023, the CDC estimates that vaccines prevented 1.1 million deaths and resulted in $540 billion in direct savings.

Here’s what else you should know.

What doctors and public health officials are saying

Why should we vaccinate children? According to Margaret Hennessy, a physician representing the Wisconsin chapter of the American Academy of Pediatricians, the easiest way to say it is that “disease is bad.”

“Many of the illnesses we vaccinate against cause premature death, especially in young children,” said Hennessy. Those that don’t kill can cause permanent health problems like blindness.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services website on childhood vaccination says that “vaccines are among the best way to protect the health of our children,” citing frequent deaths from measles, whooping cough and Haemophilus influenzae before these vaccines were widely available.

In addition to providing protection for individuals, the DHS website says that widespread vaccination means that diseases have less opportunity to spread. When enough people are vaccinated to reach “herd immunity,” overall case numbers drop, protecting everyone.

The latest on Wisconsin vaccination data

One measure of vaccination rates is the percentage of children who have completed every dose of a seven-vaccine series by the time they reach 24 months old. These include at least 4 doses of DTaP, 3 doses of poliovirus, 1 dose of MMR, 3 doses of Hib, 3 doses of HepB, 1 dose of varicella (chickenpox) and 4 doses of PCV vaccines.

While these numbers are not perfect measures because they don’t count booster shots that are important through childhood and adulthood, they can give a rough estimate of vaccination trends.

In 2024, only 68.8% of Wisconsin children had completed this seven-vaccine series by 24 months of age. However, this can vary across the state. Individual county vaccination rates ranged from 31% to 81%, with Milwaukee County sitting slightly below the statewide average at 65.5%.

The most recent data from the CDC, covering children born in 2016, reported that 69.7% of children across the country had completed the vaccine series on time.

According to the CDC, vaccinating children by this age is important for providing the best protection against diseases.

What do schools require?

Immunization requirements for child care and school entry in Wisconsin differ slightly from the seven-vaccine series. They have slightly different dose requirements and don’t require vaccines only recommended for toddlers.

The Wisconsin DHS added a requirement for the 2024-25 school year for the Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MenACWY) by seventh grade, and a booster by 12th grade. Meningococcal disease is a rare, but serious disease that can be fatal in 10% to 15% of people who get it.

“Now is the time parents should be making appointments to get their children in for the vaccines they need for back to school,” said Schauer.

More information on school requirements can be found on the Wisconsin DHS website. You can also talk to your doctor or reach out to local or tribal health departments.

Why do doubts persist?

Misinformation is one factor driving vaccine hesitancy. The effects are showing up in low vaccination rates here in Wisconsin, and the situation around the world is even more dire.

However, “vaccines are rigorously tested and thoroughly reviewed for safety and effectiveness before they are licensed,” Stephanie Schauer, Wisconsin Immunization Program Manager for DHS, said in an email to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “Once licensed, they continue to be monitored for safety.”

“It’s not just that we say that you should vaccinate your children, but it’s that we do it ourselves. I don’t know any colleagues who don’t vaccinate their children,” said Hennessy.

Beyond childhood vaccines, the Wisconsin Medical Society joined other medical organizations in June to protect access to vaccines for influenza, RSV and COVID-19. The organizations said in a letter that vaccines “remain among the best tools to protect the public against these illnesses and their potentially serious complications.”

Why success can be damaging

One major barrier to vaccinations actually may be their efficacy. Because many young parents grew up at a time when diseases like measles were not common, there can be a tendency to not recognize their seriousness.

Additionally, Hennessy said, physical access to vaccine providers can be a barrier. Finding time to visit a doctor, especially in rural areas when people might have to travel far, can prevent people from accessing vaccines.

To check if you or your children are up to date on vaccinations, you can look up vaccination records on the Wisconsin Immunization Registry maintained by the Wisconsin DHS. More details about vaccinations for children and adults can be found on the Immunize Wisconsin website.