{"id":181,"date":"2024-02-13T22:03:25","date_gmt":"2024-02-13T22:03:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/educationfund2.wpenginepowered.com\/?page_id=181"},"modified":"2025-09-01T21:45:33","modified_gmt":"2025-09-01T21:45:33","slug":"elementor-181","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/educationfund.diseasepreventionnetwork.org\/","title":{"rendered":"Home"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Protecting Communities through Pro-Vaccine Advocacy<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Our Story\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Vaccines are a cornerstone of public health, and all Americans, regardless of income or geography, should be able to access appropriate vaccines easily. Among the many distressing and lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, two in particular need an urgent and organized response…<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Our Mission & Values<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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With the influx of dangerous legislation, we must grow the pro-vaccine advocacy movement to prevent a wave of anti-vaccine legislation from becoming law. We are looking down the barrel of a catastrophic public health crisis – one in which vaccine-preventable diseases make a resurgence…<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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News <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMichele and Kaden Stevenson: Family Story\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
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Michele and Kaden Stevenson: Family Story Kaden was an otherwise healthy, active 7-year-old who ended up losing both of his legs due to complications from flu. https:\/\/youtu.be\/Sf9y5Bg_-mE?si=ICod5Yah2Djk1pdp Read More<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe Measles virus is spreading in Spartanburg.\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
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The Measles virus is spreading in Spartanburg. The economic cost could hit all of South Carolina 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\u00a0reported nearly 1,000 cases,\u00a0mainly among people who were unvaccinated. While the measles virus was once considered to be<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tBeing vaccinated could have changed my life.\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
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Being vaccinated could have changed my life. I didn\u2019t know I was seriously ill. As a college student, I assumed the fever and fatigue were temporary \u2014 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<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFewer Florida children are receiving routine vaccinations\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
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Fewer Florida Children are Receiving Routine Vaccinations 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,\u00a0according to the\u00a0U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It\u2019s one of the lowest rates in the<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tLouisiana deserves better from our leaders than anti-vaccine rhetoric\u200b\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
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Louisiana deserves better from our leaders than anti-vaccine rhetoric As a pediatric health care provider, it\u2019s deeply disheartening to witness our state\u2019s leaders squander an important opportunity to protect the health and safety of Louisianans \u2014especially our children. Recent hearings held by the House Select Committee on Homeland Security were supposed to be a chance to reflect on Louisiana\u2019s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and identify ways to strengthen our public health systems. Instead, these hearings became\u00a0a platform for spreading falsehoods, conspiracy theories and dangerous anti-vaccine rhetoric. The people of Louisiana deserve better. Our state has<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe Economic Imperative of Childhood Vaccinations for Florida’s Business Community\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
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The economic imperative of childhood vaccinations for Florida\u2019s business community As businesses in Florida continue to navigate the challenges of inflation and fluctuating federal policies, it\u2019s 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,<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\"We started Louisiana Families for Vaccines because we saw a void of vaccine education and advocacy at our Capitol, as well as other places in the state where policy was directly affecting families. Armed with a small group of passionate advocates and a few local community partners, we set out to promote accurate information about immunizations. We are grateful for the resources, strategic plans, and expertise that IDPN brings to our grassroots efforts. IDPN enhances our ability to organize, advocate, and push back against anti-vaccine legislation and misinformation by elevating science and the voices of the pro-vaccine majority.\"\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\tJennifer Herricks<\/span>PhD, Louisiana Families for Vaccines<\/span><\/cite>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u201cAs a convener of medical experts in our state, our members don\u2019t always have a lot of direct advocacy experience. So, it has been a tremendous value to be able to partner with the team at IDPN to learn from them, get support from them, and understand the unique role that medical professionals can play in advocating for the health of our citizens.\u201d\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\tTina Young<\/span>Project LINK<\/span><\/cite>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u201cWe have seen a coordinated attack from anti-science advocates and funders; because of IDPN, the pro-science, pro-immunization community finally has the ability to coordinate messaging and resources. The impact we are making at the state level is possible because of the national work IDPN is doing.\u201d \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\tEmily Lang<\/span>Oklahoma Alliance for Healthy Families<\/span><\/cite>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u201cIDPN has had a tremendous impact on our abilities in the advocacy space. They helped us support statewide capacity building to engage policy makers and related influencers to initiate steps toward implementation of protection of pro-vaccine policies. Importantly, they understand how to support groups on the ground by allowing us to drive the advocacy activities that are most effective when it comes to protecting Idaho.\u201d\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\tKaren Sharpnac<\/span>Idaho Immunization Coalition <\/span><\/cite>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u201cI can\u2019t begin to say enough wonderful things about the impact of IDPN in our state. The team really knows what they are doing, but rather than taking over, they give us a chance to lead and grow with their support. They really believe in supporting those of us on the front lines and as a result, we have a very active, engaged group with deep roots in our community. Those deep roots with lots of nourishment are the heart of how we are able to advocate for good public health policies in Tennessee and push back against bad bills.\u201d \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\tEmily Delikat<\/span>MPH, CPH, Tennessee Families for Vaccines<\/span><\/cite>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Protecting Communities through Pro-Vaccine Advocacy Our Story Vaccines are a cornerstone of public health, and all Americans, regardless of income or geography, should be able to access appropriate vaccines easily. Among the many distressing and lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, two in particular need an urgent and organized response… Read More Our Mission & …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_genesis_block_theme_hide_title":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-181","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","post","with-featured-image"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/educationfund.diseasepreventionnetwork.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/181","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/educationfund.diseasepreventionnetwork.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/educationfund.diseasepreventionnetwork.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/educationfund.diseasepreventionnetwork.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/educationfund.diseasepreventionnetwork.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=181"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/educationfund.diseasepreventionnetwork.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/181\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/educationfund.diseasepreventionnetwork.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=181"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}