The GOP's New Anti-Vaccine Laws Will Hurt Kids
Some Republicans see opposing vaccines as a way to win votes. But it’s terrible public health policy.
Florida, man.
Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg
In the aftermath of the Covid pandemic, US politicians aren’t just badmouthing vaccines — they’re pushing through laws that undermine them. If the trend continues, we risk losing the layer of protection we enjoy from preventable diseases like the measles. And we risk losing more lives to seasonal illnesses like the flu and Covid.
A new report by Boston University researchers documents the problem. The team, led by political scientist Matthew Motta, found 376 anti-vaccine bills introduced in states around the country in 2023. The vast majority, 84%, were introduced by Republicans; 42 have been signed into law. Although Motta’s research can only provide a snapshot of a single year, several vaccine experts I spoke with sense that such legislation is increasing.