Colorado Immunization Advocates (CIA) is a nonprofit organization of
Colorado parents & concerned citizens who support pro-science vaccine policy
for the safety of our children and the community.
Colorado parents & concerned citizens who support pro-science vaccine policy
for the safety of our children and the community.
We think it’s important for parents to tell each other their stories and share with neighbors, school and childcare leaders, and decision-makers why they vaccinate -- or, in some cases, why community vaccination rates are vital to the health of someone they love.
CIA works to maintain and strengthen public health policy to keep our children and our community healthy and protected from vaccine-preventable diseases. State vaccine policies have a clear impact on vaccination rates, which in turn impact the likelihood of a disease outbreak. By speaking clearly about our desire for strong pro-health vaccine policy, we can ensure that Colorado’s laws are not weakened by the spread of unscientific misinformation about vaccines.
We will be more successful if we all work together. By joining our group, you become part of a network of diverse, pro-science Coloradans. You can help us decide how to share our message. Send us a note and let us know what's important to you!
CIA works to maintain and strengthen public health policy to keep our children and our community healthy and protected from vaccine-preventable diseases. State vaccine policies have a clear impact on vaccination rates, which in turn impact the likelihood of a disease outbreak. By speaking clearly about our desire for strong pro-health vaccine policy, we can ensure that Colorado’s laws are not weakened by the spread of unscientific misinformation about vaccines.
We will be more successful if we all work together. By joining our group, you become part of a network of diverse, pro-science Coloradans. You can help us decide how to share our message. Send us a note and let us know what's important to you!
Board of directors
Alison studied global and rural nursing in Nzema, Ghana. She first volunteered in public health in her early teens and she loves to eat vegetables right in the garden.
Q: Why did you decide to speak up for pro-vaccine policy?
A: I am a hospital nurse who is concerned about public health and prevention, including Colorado's immunity rates.
Q: What do you wish the general public knew about vaccine policy?
A: Even if vaccine supportive legislation seems obvious it needs advocates to counter the very vocal opposition.
Q: What is your favorite thing about our pro-vaccine community?
A: The thoughtful people involved.
Emily is the mother of two daughters (19 and 17) and a son (13). She enjoys acting and directing, and is currently working on her first script! Emily is an animal lover -- her family has an adopted kitten, a bearded dragon, and a leopard gecko.
Q: Why did you decide to speak up for pro-vaccine policy?
A: I became curious about state vaccine laws when I realized that my teenage daughters were able to drive themselves to the doctor, but couldn't get vaccines without my permission. I started looking into Colorado laws and couldn't believe how they had been influenced by anti-vaccine sentiment.
Q: What do you wish the general public knew about vaccine policy?
A: The laws are very reasonable, and allow for so much parental choice. The idea that we're trying to "force" vaccinate anyone is patently ridiculous!
Q: What is your favorite thing about our pro-vaccine community?
A: They're such incredibly intelligent, passionate people. There's a saying, "If you're the smartest person in the room, find a new room." Well, this group is my room, and I'm so glad I met them.
Grace is the mother of a 5-year-old and a 2-year-old. She loves hiking, biking, and road trips.
Q: Why did you decide to speak up for pro-vaccine policy?
A: I chose to speak up when I realized that my young children were unsafe attending many daycares and schools in Colorado because of our low immunization rates. I would like my children to understand how amazing science and vaccines are, and for them to feel safe from preventable diseases while in school.
Q: What do you wish the general public knew about vaccine policy?
A: I wish that others understood that the policy we support is not going to take away their right to choose to vaccinate their own children or not. There is no such thing as mandatory or forced vaccinations!
Q: What is your favorite thing about our pro-vaccine community?
A: I love how the majority of Coloradans are so science-minded and love vaccines as much I do! We have such a strong and supportive community of families that believe in science and public health.
Lesley is the mother of two sons, with four living grandchildren and a two-year-old grandson that is deceased. She loves to travel, go scuba diving and bike riding, and is a big Elvis fan.
Q: Why did you decide to speak up for pro-vaccine policy?
A: I lost my grandson to bacterial meningitis at the age of 2. I have always believed in vaccinations, and had my children fully vaccinated.
Note: The first scheduled dose of vaccine for the meningitis that took the life of Lesley's grandson is not on the recommended schedule until 7th grade. Children younger than that rely on the protection of those around them being vaccinated to decrease the incidences of the disease.
Q: What do you wish the general public knew about vaccine policy?
A: That vaccines are safe and necessary to protect all children -- and the most vulnerable (through herd immunity) from vaccine-preventable diseases.
Q: What is your favorite thing about our pro-vaccine community?
A: The educated, committed group members. They are passionate about helping others understand the importance of vaccines.
Matthew is the father of a 2-year-old boy (now deceased). He loves to travel as much as he can.
Q: Why did you decide to speak up for pro-vaccine policy?
A: To help raise awareness about the importance of vaccines.
Q: What do you wish the general public knew about vaccine policy?
A: That this is not about making vaccines mandatory. Sometimes news reporting makes it sound like that is the issue.
Q: What is your favorite thing about our pro-vaccine community?
A: That even though we, as Democrats and Republicans, may not agree on every issue, we can all rally around this important cause.
Interim executive director
Elizabeth is the mom of a 7-year-old and a 2-year-old. She loves animals, watching sci-fi, and baking.
Q: Why did you decide to speak up for pro-vaccine policy?
A: When I had my first child, I found out there were people who actively chose not to vaccinate their children. I was afraid that my baby would be exposed to a vaccine-preventable disease. Instead of telling me my fears were unfounded, our pediatrician said I was right to be concerned and that she was sorry she couldn't do anything to assuage my fears. So I decided that something needed to be done and started to speak out in favor of common-sense vaccine policy.
Q: What do you wish the general public knew about vaccine policy?
A: Vaccine policies are designed to protect all of us. Disease eradication is a good thing. We are so fortunate to live at a time when we can protect our most vulnerable citizens from deadly diseases. Vaccines are one of the best forms of preventative medicine we have. It is so important to base public health policy on sound science. Good vaccine policies encourage what the majority of parents already do: vaccinate their children and maintain the necessary levels of herd immunity to protect those who are are not able to be vaccinated.
Q: What is your favorite thing about our pro-vaccine community?
A: We are making a positive impact on public health policy and ensuring that accurate, science based, information about vaccines is available. We are making the voices of pro-vaccine Coloradans heard at the government level and demonstrating that we are the majority.
Q: Why did you decide to speak up for pro-vaccine policy?
A: When I had my first child, I found out there were people who actively chose not to vaccinate their children. I was afraid that my baby would be exposed to a vaccine-preventable disease. Instead of telling me my fears were unfounded, our pediatrician said I was right to be concerned and that she was sorry she couldn't do anything to assuage my fears. So I decided that something needed to be done and started to speak out in favor of common-sense vaccine policy.
Q: What do you wish the general public knew about vaccine policy?
A: Vaccine policies are designed to protect all of us. Disease eradication is a good thing. We are so fortunate to live at a time when we can protect our most vulnerable citizens from deadly diseases. Vaccines are one of the best forms of preventative medicine we have. It is so important to base public health policy on sound science. Good vaccine policies encourage what the majority of parents already do: vaccinate their children and maintain the necessary levels of herd immunity to protect those who are are not able to be vaccinated.
Q: What is your favorite thing about our pro-vaccine community?
A: We are making a positive impact on public health policy and ensuring that accurate, science based, information about vaccines is available. We are making the voices of pro-vaccine Coloradans heard at the government level and demonstrating that we are the majority.
Policy director
Sundari is the mother of a daughter (9) and a son (4). She loves cooking, trail running, and snuggling her chickens and dwarf goats.
Q: Why did you decide to speak up for pro-vaccine policy?
A: When I had my first child I was uncertain about vaccines, but after asking questions of my pediatrician learning more I understood how vital they were as part of preventative health care. I became disturbed by the proliferation of dangerous misinformation that proliferates online about the safety and importance of vaccines. While it's true that people are bound to hold differing opinions, I believe that it's critically important that we base our public health policy on science -- not fear -- and so I decided to start speaking up.
Q: What do you wish the general public knew about vaccine policy?
A: That, unfortunately, the vast majority of what they read about it online is wrong. A common tactic of those who oppose vaccines is to take a simple, common-sense policy and distort what it does so that it sounds as scary as possible. There's a lot of nuance in these discussions about vaccines, but when one person's decision has the potential to impact the health and safety of someone else, it becomes something that we have to set guidelines on for everyone's protection.
Q: What is your favorite thing about the pro-vaccine community?
A: I am constantly impressed by the passion and intelligence of the pro-vaccine advocates I've had the privilege to work with over the last many years. They are motivated not just by concern for the safety of their own families, but because they care about the safety of their whole community.
Q: Why did you decide to speak up for pro-vaccine policy?
A: When I had my first child I was uncertain about vaccines, but after asking questions of my pediatrician learning more I understood how vital they were as part of preventative health care. I became disturbed by the proliferation of dangerous misinformation that proliferates online about the safety and importance of vaccines. While it's true that people are bound to hold differing opinions, I believe that it's critically important that we base our public health policy on science -- not fear -- and so I decided to start speaking up.
Q: What do you wish the general public knew about vaccine policy?
A: That, unfortunately, the vast majority of what they read about it online is wrong. A common tactic of those who oppose vaccines is to take a simple, common-sense policy and distort what it does so that it sounds as scary as possible. There's a lot of nuance in these discussions about vaccines, but when one person's decision has the potential to impact the health and safety of someone else, it becomes something that we have to set guidelines on for everyone's protection.
Q: What is your favorite thing about the pro-vaccine community?
A: I am constantly impressed by the passion and intelligence of the pro-vaccine advocates I've had the privilege to work with over the last many years. They are motivated not just by concern for the safety of their own families, but because they care about the safety of their whole community.
Contact us at info@coparents4vax.org OR click here to join our network!