Vaccines are one of the most powerful public health tools we have. They protect individuals, families, and entire communities from diseases that once caused widespread illness and death. And yet, in Colorado and across the country, we are seeing preventable diseases return—largely because vaccination rates are falling.
As a surgeon, I may not administer vaccines in my daily practice, but I see what happens when preventable illness becomes severe. No physician forgets the experience of caring for a patient whose life could have been saved with earlier protection.
We are already seeing warning signs. Flu cases are rising. At the same time, flu immunization rates remain stubbornly low. Influenza vaccines are not perfect—no medical intervention is—but they are far better than no protection at all. They reduce the risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death. That matters, especially for children, older adults, and people with chronic conditions. And when we get vaccinated, we protect loved ones who may be more vulnerable.
Vaccination is also about protecting others. In hospitals, clinics, schools, and workplaces, we are constantly in contact with people whose immune systems may be weaker than our own. When physicians and health care workers vaccinate, we reduce the risk of unknowingly transmitting serious disease to patients who are already vulnerable or getting sick ourselves. When people remain unvaccinated, preventable illness floods emergency rooms, stretches hospital capacity, and places an avoidable strain on health care workers. That is why many hospitals, including mine, require flu vaccination for staff. It is a professional responsibility — and a moral one.
Despite overwhelming scientific evidence, misinformation about vaccines continues to spread. This has created confusion and fear. The good news is that reliable, science-based guidance is readily available. The American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family Physicians and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists continue to provide clear, evidence-based childhood vaccine recommendations grounded in decades of research and real-world data. These recommendations have not wavered because the science has not changed.
Vaccines are not approved casually. They undergo rigorous testing, careful review, and continuous safety monitoring long after they are introduced. Most vaccines use components that are inactive or killed, meaning they cannot cause the diseases they are designed to prevent. Their purpose is simple: to prepare the immune system so illness does not become life-threatening.
Physicians have an essential role to play in rebuilding trust in vaccines. We can lead by example by vaccinating ourselves. We can ask patients about their concerns, listen without judgment, and point them to credible sources. And patients can take the important step of talking to your doctor, who has years of training. If your physician doesn’t immediately have an answer, they will know where to find one.
Preventable diseases should never resurface, and the tragedies associated with them should not be accepted as inevitable. Colorado’s physicians remain committed to science, prevention, and the health of our communities.
As we move deeper into flu, RSV, and COVID season, now is the time to act. If you or your family members are not up to date on recommended vaccines, talk with your physician today. Vaccination protects not only you, but the people around you—and it remains one of the simplest, most effective steps we can take to keep Colorado healthy this winter.
Brigitta Robinson, MD, FACS, is president of the Colorado Medical Society, the state’s largest physician organization.
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