Public Health

An open letter to the American public on respiratory virus vaccines

| 3 Min Read

An open letter to the American people:

With the severe influenza season the U.S. experienced during the 2024-25 respiratory virus season, and the recognition that we will likely see another surge in respiratory viruses this fall, we know strong physician leadership is essential to reducing preventable illness, hospitalizations, and death. Vaccines for influenza, RSV, and COVID-19 remain among the best tools to protect the public against these illnesses and their potentially serious complications—and physicians are among the most trusted voices to recommend them. We come together as physicians from every corner of medicine to reaffirm our commitment to these lifesaving vaccines.

Recent changes to federal immunization review processes raised concerns across the medical and public health community. In this moment of uncertainty, physicians must align around clear, evidence-based guidance for patients.

We commit to working together to promote public understanding and confidence in the use of vaccines to avoid another severe respiratory virus season and resurgence of vaccine-preventable illnesses and deaths. We call on our partners—from insurers to hospitals to public health agencies—to ensure vaccines remain available to patients without cost sharing.

The health and safety of the public remains our top priority, and we will continue to support evidence-based immunizations to help prevent severe disease and protect public health.

Your continued partners in health,

American Medical Association

Academy of Physicians in Clinical Research

Alaska State Medical Association

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology 

American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

American Academy of Family Physicians

American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine

American Academy of Neurology

American Academy of Ophthalmology

American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery

American Academy of Pediatrics

American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

American Association of Public Health Physicians 

American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology

American College of Chest Physicians

American College of Correctional Physicians

American College of Emergency Physicians

American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

American College of Physicians

American College of Rheumatology 

American Gastroenterological Association

American Geriatrics Society

American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society

American Osteopathic Association 

American Society for Clinical Pathology

American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

American Society of Anesthesiologists

American Society of Hematology

American Society of Nephrology

American Society of Neuroimaging

American Society of Nuclear Cardiology

American Society of Transplant Surgeons

American Thoracic Society

Arizona Medical Association

California Medical Association 

College of American Pathologists

Colorado Medical Society

Endocrine Society 

GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality

Hawaii Medical Association

Idaho Medical Association

Illinois State Medical Society

Indiana State Medical Association

Infectious Diseases Society of America

Kentucky Medical Association

Korean American Medical Association

Louisiana State Medical Society

Maine Medical Association

Massachusetts Medical Society

MedChi, The Maryland State Medical Society 

Medical Association of Georgia

Medical Association of the State of Alabama

Medical Society of DC

Medical Society of Delaware

Medical Society of the State of New York

Michigan State Medical Society

Minnesota Medical Association 

Mississippi State Medical Association 

Missouri State Medical Association

Montana Medical Association

Nebraska Medical Association

New Mexico Medical Society

North Carolina Medical Society

North Dakota Medical Association

Ohio State Medical Association

Oklahoma State Medical Association

Pennsylvania Medical Society

Rhode Island Medical Society

Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine

Society for Pediatric Dermatology

Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES)

Society of Critical Care Medicine

Society of Hospital Medicine

South Dakota State Medical Association

Texas Medical Association

Vermont Medical Society

Washington State Medical Association

Wisconsin Medical Society

Wyoming Medical Society

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