IHS clinicians say vaccine messaging is being restricted under new HHS leadership

The Indian Health Service has begun requiring approval for terms such as “immunizations” and “vaccines” in its public messaging, according to internal emails obtained by ProPublica. The messages show that agency officials now classify the terms as “medium-risk” and require clearance by public information officers before appearing in social media posts, pamphlets or presentations.

The shift follows changes in vaccine policy under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime vaccine critic. IHS clinicians told ProPublica the new restrictions have limited their ability to promote immunizations and respond to outbreaks on the Navajo Nation, where vaccination rates have historically been high. In a statement, an HHS spokesperson said the revisions were intended to support “shared decision-making” between patients and providers while maintaining “accurate, evidence-based information.”