Michele and Kaden Stevenson: Family Story
Michele and Kaden Stevenson: Family Story
Families Fighting Flu
Kaden was an otherwise healthy, active 7-year-old who ended up losing both of his legs due to complications from flu.
The Measles virus is spreading in Spartanburg.
The Measles virus is spreading in Spartanburg. The economic cost could hit all of South Carolina
Scott Thorpe
Southeast Politics, March 18, 2026
Public health discussions often focus on medicine. But when preventable diseases spread through a community, the consequences reach far beyond hospitals and clinics. They affect workers, businesses, schools, and the broader economic stability of local communities.
South Carolina is currently seeing that reality unfold as the measles virus continues to spread in and around Spartanburg County. As of February 2026, the state has reported nearly 1,000 cases, mainly among people who were unvaccinated.
While the measles virus was once considered to be eradicated in the United States, declining vaccination rates have allowed the virus to reappear. South Carolina’s outbreak reflects a broader, concerning national trend of highly contagious diseases quickly spreading when vaccination rates fall. Because the measles virus spreads so easily, even small gaps in immunity can allow outbreaks to grow rapidly once the virus enters a community.
Being vaccinated could have changed my life.
Being vaccinated could have changed my life.
Jamie Schanbaum
Tallahassee Democrat, March 1, 2026,
I didn’t know I was seriously ill. As a college student, I assumed the fever and fatigue were temporary — something I could push through. Instead, within hours of going to the hospital, my family was told I might not live through the night. What began as mild symptoms became meningococcal disease, a rare but highly aggressive bacterial infection that violently attacks the bloodstream.
I survived, but at an unimaginable cost. I lost both legs below the knees and my fingers. My life changed forever in a matter of days.
For the last few months, I have been meeting with Florida lawmakers, speaking with community leaders, and recently testifying before the Florida Department of Health — because what happened to me is preventable, and decisions being made here could determine whether other families face the same outcome.
Fewer Florida children are receiving routine vaccinations
Fewer Florida Children are Receiving Routine Vaccinations
Stephanie Colombini
WUSF, January 13, 2025
High vaccination rates can help prevent the spread of severe illnesses like measles and polio. But pediatricians say they’re encountering more parents hesitant to get their kids immunized.
Childhood vaccination rates in Florida continue to decline, part of a national trend as misinformation spreads more widely and hesitancy increases, health experts said.
In the 2023-24 school year, 88.1% of kindergartners completed required vaccines that protect against severe illnesses, including measles, polio and chickenpox, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
It’s one of the lowest rates in the nation, and it concerns physicians like Dr. Jennifer Takagishi, vice president of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Florida chapter and a professor at the University of South Florida.
Louisiana deserves better from our leaders than anti-vaccine rhetoric
Louisiana deserves better from our leaders than anti-vaccine rhetoric
Dr. Kali Broussard
October 29, 2024
As a pediatric health care provider, it’s deeply disheartening to witness our state’s leaders squander an important opportunity to protect the health and safety of Louisianans —especially our children.
Recent hearings held by the House Select Committee on Homeland Security were supposed to be a chance to reflect on Louisiana’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and identify ways to strengthen our public health systems. Instead, these hearings became a platform for spreading falsehoods, conspiracy theories and dangerous anti-vaccine rhetoric.
The people of Louisiana deserve better.
Our state has faced tremendous challenges — from hurricanes to health crises — and the COVID-19 pandemic was yet another test of our resilience. What we need now is a commitment to learning from the past, improving our systems and preparing for the future.
Instead, we saw taxpayer dollars used to amplify deceptive anti-vaccine talking points that undermines public trust and endangers lives. The presence of so-called “experts” who were invited to push dangerous conspiracy theories in a formal government setting was not only irresponsible but deeply disappointing. Even more troubling were the statements made by our state’s surgeon general and deputy surgeon general, whose remarks only served to legitimize these baseless claims.
The Economic Imperative of Childhood Vaccinations for Florida’s Business Community
The economic imperative of childhood vaccinations for Florida’s business community
Julio Fuentes
September 3, 2024
As businesses in Florida continue to navigate the challenges of inflation and fluctuating federal policies, it’s never been more critical to ensure a stable and healthy workforce. One unlikely but vital component of this is childhood vaccinations, which are actually a key component of this stability by providing both immediate and long-term economic benefits too significant to ignore.
A healthy workforce is the backbone of any thriving economy. When children are vaccinated, they are less likely to fall ill, meaning fewer missed school days and, crucially, fewer missed workdays for parents. This stability is especially important for small businesses like those in the Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, which so often cannot afford the disruptions caused when employees must take time off to care for sick children. In Florida, where small businesses are the lifeblood of the local economy, the benefits of a vaccinated population extend beyond public health — they directly contribute to business productivity and economic resilience.
Lost Trust Leads To Lives Lost: Rebuilding Vaccine Confidence For A Healthier Nation
Lost Trust Leads To Lives Lost: Rebuilding Vaccine Confidence For A Healthier Nation
Bill Frist
July 23, 2024
One of my earliest childhood memories was watching my father, a doctor, make house calls to his patients around Nashville. Witnessing his healing, empathy, and dedication to the science of medicine first inspired me to follow in his footsteps — not just as a physician, but in his passion to make the world a healthier, better place for all. It inevitably guided me to the halls of the U.S. Capitol as a senator representing my home state of Tennessee.
In those halls, I saw the greatness of this country at its best moments — times of bipartisanship, when the health, happiness, well-being, and freedom of the American people were prioritized above all else.
That was 17 years ago. Since then, we have watched that bipartisanship crumble and those good moments become fewer and farther between, reaching a precipice during the COVID-19 pandemic –– a precipice we are dangerously close to careening over.
Childhood Vaccinations – Not Just a Personal Choice, A Community Responsibility
Childhood Vaccinations - Not Just a Personal Choice, A Community Responsibility
Kayla Pagel
Featured in Southeast Politics
May 24, 2024
In an era where misinformation can spread as rapidly as disease, it’s imperative that we, as a community, reaffirm our commitment to vaccines—one of the most effective preventive public health tools available. As president of the Louisiana Parent Teacher Association (PTA), I feel compelled to address the health and safety of our children through vaccination as a matter of utmost urgency.
Our children’s well-being, the continuity of their education, and the strength of our community depend on it.
The PTA serves as a bridge between parents, teachers, and the community with a long and storied history of advocating for the wellness of children. Our mission is to provide parents and educators with the resources and support they need to foster an environment in which every child can thrive and realize their full potential, and vaccination remains one of the critical tools to ensure their health and safety.
Commentary: The evidence is clear; vaccines protect our children
Commentary: The evidence is clear: vaccines protect children
Thresia B. Gambon
Featured in the Orlando Sentinel
May 21, 2024
As dedicated physicians and members of the Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, we are staunch advocates for evidence-based medicine, partifularly when it comes to pediatric health care. In light of the recent measles outbreak in Florida and elsewhere, and the ongoing discussions surrounding vaccines, we feel compelled to reaffirm the indispensable role of vaccines in protecting the health and well-being of our children – a view grounded firmly in scientific evidence.
Guest Column: Vaccines are good for children and community
Guest column: Louisiana's leaders should champion vaccines and children's health
Trey N. Parker and Tammy Rider
Featured on NOLA.com
May 3, 2024
It’s been more than 60 years since The Advocate (then called The Morning Advocate) published a story about the Boy Scouts volunteering their time to help get kids vaccinated against the polio virus. It’s hard to imagine the devastating impact of that terrible disease, which often left young children unable to walk, because Americans rallied to the cause and got vaccinations that virtually eradicated it.
Many diseases like polio once plagued society. But due to the revolutionary implementation of vaccines, we have become desensitized to the dangers of these illnesses.