Maine has never been afraid to lead when it comes to doing what's right. In 2019, a group of concerned parents formed Maine Families for Vaccines and raised awareness about Maine’s dangerously high opt-out rate for vaccines after the state experienced outbreaks of whooping cough and chicken pox in schools and daycares.

We organized to pass PL 154, removing non-medical exemptions to school-required vaccination requirements. The law went into effect on September 1, 2021. For this work, Maine Families for Vaccines was awarded the Maine Public Health Association's President's Award, its highest honor.

In 2020, Maine Families for Vaccines defended Maine’s vaccine law against a referendum attempt by anti-vaccine activists. With support from a statewide coalition of 62 leading healthcare and nonprofit organizations, we led the No on 1 Campaign to Protect Maine's Children to a resounding 73% victory after a statewide vote, the first of its kind in the nation and representing the greatest margin of victory on a referendum vote in Maine’s history.

Maine’s historic vote on vaccine laws brought together parents, health care providers, legislators, and experts in support of public health. Together, we set the standard for keeping our communities safe from preventable disease.

Today, MFV works closely with a broad set of partners to combat misinformation about vaccines, educate legislators about the value of policy based in science, and support legislation, legislators, and candidates that champion public health and the greater good.