Mackenzie Bartlett

Dear Members of the New Hampshire House of Representatives, As a physician dedicated to the health and well-being of our community, I am writing to express my strong opposition to HB 524-FN, which seeks to repeal the New Hampshire Vaccine Association (NHVA). This bill poses significant risks to public health, particularly for our most vulnerable populations—children and those with compromised immune systems. As a pediatrician this is incredibly important to the health of my patients. As a citizen and mother, I urge you to do everything you would to help families protect their loved ones. The NHVA plays a critical role in ensuring access to vaccines for all children in New Hampshire, regardless of their family's financial situation. By pooling resources from insurers and other payers, the NHVA helps fund the state's universal vaccine purchasing program. This program ensures that vaccines are available at no cost to families, removing financial barriers that might otherwise prevent timely immunizations. This helps protect not only individuals, but plays a vital role in promoting herd immunity to protect our entire population, including those who are unable to get vaccines themselves. Repealing the NHVA would dismantle this system, leading to decreased vaccination rates across the state. As a physician, I have witnessed firsthand the devastating consequences of vaccine-preventable diseases. Before the widespread availability of vaccines, illnesses such as measles, polio, and whooping cough claimed countless lives and left many others with lifelong complications. Even today, in communities with low vaccination rates, outbreaks of these diseases continue to occur, putting lives at risk. Moreover, the financial implications of this bill cannot be ignored. Without the NHVA, the burden of vaccine costs would shift to families, healthcare providers, and the state government. This could lead to increased healthcare costs and strain on our public health infrastructure. It is far more cost-effective to prevent diseases through vaccination than to treat them after they occur. Vaccines are one of the most effective tools we have to protect public health. They save lives, reduce healthcare costs, and contribute to the overall well-being of our society. Repealing the NHVA would be a step backward, jeopardizing the health of our children and the broader community. I urge you to consider the far-reaching consequences of this bill and to vote against HB 524-FN. Let us continue to prioritize the health and safety of our residents by supporting programs that ensure access to life-saving vaccines. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Mackenzie Bartlett, MD