Physicians Reaffirm Importance of Vaccines Amid Measles Outbreak

August 14, 2025

Vaccination remains a safe, reliable, and heavily tested form of protecting families from preventable communicable diseases.

PHOENIX, Arizona — As millions of children across the state return to classrooms, the Arizona Medical Association (ArMA), the Arizona Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AzAAP), and the Arizona Academy of Family Physicians (AzAFP) are reaffirming the importance of vaccinations in protecting children’s health and the well-being of our communities.

Vaccines remain one of the most effective tools in modern medicine, preventing the spread of infectious diseases that once posed widespread threats. However, declining childhood vaccination rates in Arizona and nationwide are placing families at increased risk — particularly from measles, a disease that had been eliminated in the U.S. but is now re-emerging.

“Before a vaccine was developed, millions of children, teens, and adults suffered from measles,” stated Dr. Pamela Murphy, chair of ArMA’s Public Health Committee and pediatrician in Phoenix. “The history of this disease in the U.S. demonstrates our vulnerability should vaccination rates continue to decline. We risk a resurgence of avoidable diseases and with them, preventable hospitalizations, complications, and deaths.”

This year, the nation is experiencing the highest number of measles cases in 33 years, with more than 1,350 confirmed infections, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. Arizona is not immune to this trend, especially as neighboring states, including Texas, experience severe outbreaks. With at least four cases already reported within the state, physicians anticipate further spread as children gather in schools, at sporting events, and in other group settings.

"Vaccines are one of the greatest and most reliable forms of modern medicine,” said Dr. Sarah Coles, an ArMA Board of Directors member, AzAFP member, and family medicine physician in Flagstaff. “Without them, millions of patients would unnecessarily suffer from preventable diseases and related complications each year.”


While skepticism toward science and medicine has increased, physicians remain among the most trusted professionals in the country. Their guidance is grounded in decades of rigorous research and public health experience.


“We have decades of science and everyday experience to confirm that vaccines are safe and effective. There is no doubt about it in my mind: vaccines save lives. If I had any reservations, I wouldn’t have gotten vaccinated myself, and I wouldn’t have vaccinated my own children. I have seen how devastating vaccine-preventable infections can be firsthand. The doctors who trained me lived in a time when that wasn’t possible. We are truly fortunate to live in an era where we can prevent these terrible infections,” said Dr. Nathan Price, AzAAP Infectious Disease and Immunizations Medical Director and pediatric infectious disease specialist in Tucson.

Generations of physicians and medical researchers carefully developed vaccines with a vested interest in protecting communities and saving lives. By dedicating their careers to vaccine development, these individuals have prevented millions of children and adults from dying due to diseases such as pertussis, diphtheria, and measles.

“Parents can breathe a sigh of relief knowing our children are protected from some truly horrible infectious illnesses,” stated Dr. Scott Olson, AzAAP Infectious Disease and Immunizations Medical Director and pediatric infectious disease specialist in Tucson. “While any medication or treatment can potentially cause side effects, vaccination has been proven as a safe and effective means of protecting ourselves against life-threatening diseases without taking the associated risks of acquiring immunity through exposure to infection. That’s why my children have received all recommended childhood vaccines, and thanks to my time in the U.S. Navy, I have received all my adult vaccines.”

The Arizona Medical Association, the Arizona Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Arizona Academy of Family Physicians urge all parents to consult with their child’s physician and ensure their vaccinations are up to date. Protecting one child’s health helps protect our entire community.

“With the measles outbreak, we are seeing children and adults die. We know that many more will develop brain disease, the effects of which can be permanent. If you want to avoid risk, the best way to do it is to get vaccinated,” Dr. Price continued.

“Physicians have done the research, the reading, and the testing,” Dr. Coles reiterated. “I am vaccinated, my family is vaccinated, and I urge the same for my patients.”

ADHS Issues Standing Orders for Flu, COVID-19 Vaccine Access

By Admin User • September 18, 2026
Statewide orders keep pharmacists and physicians authorized to vaccinate Arizonans amid uncertainty over the next ACIP meeting. Statewide Orders Cover the 2026-27 Flu & COVID Season The Arizona Department of Health Services has issued statewide standing orders supporting access to the 2026-27 influenza and COVID-19 vaccines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Arizonans seeking a flu or COVID-19 vaccine should contact their physician or pharmacy to confirm availability. Why the Orders Were Issued Arizona pharmacists may administer vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, vaccines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for international travel, or vaccines authorized under a prescription, including a physician-issued public health standing order. With the timing of the next ACIP meeting uncertain, ADHS worked with the Arizona Board of Pharmacy to issue statewide standing orders for the flu and COVID-19 vaccines, which function as a prescription allowing pharmacists and physicians across Arizona to administer them to anyone who wants one. ADHS Medical Advisor Weighs In "Vaccines are one of the most important tools we have to protect our communities. The Influenza and COVID-19 vaccines have been proven safe and effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death. Vaccines help us limit the spread of disease, reduce pressure on our healthcare system and reduce costs," said Dr. Richard Carmona, ADHS public health medical advisor and the 17th U.S. Surgeon General. "We have issued these standing orders to ensure safe and timely access to the vaccines in alignment with scientific and evidence-based guidance." What Arizonans Should Know The standing orders do not require every pharmacy to offer vaccinations, and they do not guarantee insurance coverage for administration. Coverage and out-of-pocket costs vary by plan, so Arizonans should check with their insurance provider before scheduling an appointment. 

Arizona Asks Supreme Court to Halt Prison Health Care Takeover

By Admin User • September 18, 2026
State attorneys seek an emergency stay after lower courts reject bids to delay receivership of the prison health care system. State Makes a Last-Ditch Appeal Attorneys for the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry asked the U.S. Supreme Court this week to delay a court-ordered receivership of the state's prison health care system. The request comes after both a federal district court and the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declined to pause the takeover. In the recent application, former U.S. Solicitor General Paul Clement, a representative of the department, argued that the state deserves more time to make its case before surrendering control of its operations, including oversight of its employees and health care budget. Roots of the Case The dispute began in 2012 when inmates sued the department, alleging the prison system's inadequate medical, mental health, and dental care amounted to cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment. The case went through years of litigation and a failed settlement agreement. In 2023, U.S. District Judge Roslyn Silver ruled that the health care system was "grossly inadequate." The court ordered the prison healthcare system to comply with more than 150 "quality indicators," but according to court-appointed monitors, the department failed to comply with 131 of the measures. In light of this finding, Silver named Annette Chambers-Smith, former director of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, to take over as receiver effective Oct. 19. Arguments on Both Sides Clement argues receivership should be the last resort and that Silver moved to it too quickly. He asserts that the department has made measurable progress, including growing its health care staffing by more than 50%, expanding substance-use treatment access, and adopting a new care model. Corene Kendrick, deputy director of the American Civil Liberties Union National Prison Project, which represents the roughly 25,000 people incarcerated in Arizona prisons, called the department's request a "Hail Mary" and said Silver had given the department years of opportunities to comply before ordering receivership. What Happens Next The Supreme Court has not yet set a deadline for the plaintiffs to respond to the stay request. Separately, the 9th Circuit is now reviewing the merits of the receivership order itself. The department filed its opening brief on Sept. 15, and the plaintiffs' response is due Oct. 15. Information in this article was sourced from the Arizona Mirror .