AFV Statement of Support for CDC

We stand in unwavering solidarity with our esteemed colleagues in health and science at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention who have endured the trauma of anti-vaccine violence. This horrific act targeted people who have devoted their lives and careers to protecting the health and safety of all Americans. Such violence harms not only those directly attacked, but also the public health systems and community safeguards we all rely on.

At a time when leadership should offer clarity, compassion, and resolve, Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s muted response has fallen far short. By emboldening anti-vaccine extremism through his rhetoric and policy choices, he has increased the risks we face, both from outbreaks of preventable disease and from the intentional erosion of trust in our experts and the systems that protect us all from harm. 

We refuse to allow threats, intimidation, or violence to dictate the future of science, medicine, or public policy. We call on leaders at every level to unequivocally condemn these acts, reject extremist narratives, and take action to protect those who work tirelessly to keep our nation safe and healthy.

Public health depends on more than stopping disease—it depends on a shared commitment to truth, respect, and the values that hold our society together.