The AAP has joined several leading physician organizations in calling for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to restore grant funding to study vaccine hesitancy and uptake.
The NIH reportedly sent messages to staff to cancel or cut back several grants that fund vaccine-related initiatives, including projects to identify ways to encourage vaccine uptake.
The AAP, along with the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American College of Physicians signed the joint statement released Wednesday. The organizations represent more than 400,000 physicians nationwide.
“Our organizations express serious concern and strong opposition to the NIH decision to terminate grants to study vaccine hesitancy and uptake,” the statement reads. “This action is a dangerous intrusion into critical work that seeks to protect our patients from vaccine-preventable illnesses.”
The announcement comes as at least 12 states have reported measles cases, including a large outbreak in west Texas and southeastern New Mexico that has infected more than 250 people. A majority of those infected are unvaccinated children.
As of March 11, 223 measles cases have been reported in the South Plains region of Texas. Twenty-nine patients have been hospitalized, and an unvaccinated school-age child died. In neighboring New Mexico, 33 measles cases were reported, including an unvaccinated resident who tested positive for measles after dying. The official cause of death remains under investigation.
“The vast majority of parents decide to immunize their children, and we know our communities are healthier when everyone is immunized with both the appropriate childhood and adult vaccines,” the statement reads. “… But as immunization rates have declined below 95% in many communities, it allows preventable and highly contagious diseases like measles to spread. This recission of research funding is the exact opposite of what is needed right now to keep our communities healthy.”
The AAP and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend children receive the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine at age 12-15 months and again at 4-6 years. Children can receive the second dose earlier if it is at least 28 days after the first dose. Each dose of MMR lowers the risk of infection and severity of illness, if infected.
“Peer-reviewed research plays a vital role in understanding how evidence-based strategies can promote immunization and protect against infectious diseases,” the statement reads. “It allows us to better understand how to communicate with our patients and families to address their concerns and answer their questions. The abrupt termination of these grants undermines efforts to combat misinformation and build public trust — work that is especially paramount right now as our country faces an active measles outbreak.”
The country also is dealing with one of the worst influenza seasons in recent memory. According to the CDC, the 2024-’25 season is classified as a “high severity season” overall, the first such season since 2017-’18. The CDC estimates there have been at least 40 million illnesses, 520,000 hospitalizations and 22,000 deaths from flu this season, including 114 pediatric deaths.
The latest vaccination data from the CDC show 45.8% of children have been immunized against the flu this season.
“Vaccines are one of our country’s greatest scientific achievements that work to keep our children, families and communities healthy and safe,” the statement reads. “We urge the NIH to reconsider its decision and reaffirm its commitment to supporting research that addresses vaccine hesitancy. The health of our communities depends on it.”
