NCMS Joins Stakeholders In Backing Vaccination Against Respiratory Viruses

With respiratory viruses expected to surge in the fall, the North Carolina Medical Society joined 79 affiliated societies in expressing support for vaccination to protect against the flu, COVID-19 and RSV and their potentially serious complications. The NCMS and partner organizations call on insurers, hospitals, and public health agencies to ensure these life-saving vaccines remain available to patients without cost sharing.

The open letter the NCMS and other medical societies is available here.

The full text is below:

An open letter to the American people: 

With the severe influenza season the U.S. experienced during the 2024-25 respiratory virus season, and the recognition that we will likely see another surge in respiratory viruses this fall, we know strong physician leadership is essential to reducing preventable illness, hospitalizations, and death. Vaccines for influenza, RSV, and COVID-19 remain among the best tools to protect the public against these illnesses and their potentially serious complications—and physicians are among the most trusted voices to recommend them. We come together as physicians from every corner of medicine to reaffirm our commitment to these lifesaving vaccines.

Recent changes to federal immunization review processes raised concerns across the medical and public health community. In this moment of uncertainty, physicians must align around clear, evidence-based guidance for patients.

We commit to working together to promote public understanding and confidence in the use of vaccines to avoid another severe respiratory virus season and resurgence of vaccine-preventable illnesses and deaths. We call on our partners—from insurers to hospitals to public health agencies—to ensure vaccines remain available to patients without cost sharing.

The health and safety of the public remains our top priority, and we will continue to support evidence-based immunizations to help prevent severe disease and protect public health.

Your continued partners in health,

North Carolina Medical Society