From Our Small State to the Wider World, Health is a Shared Responsibility

It has been 35 days since the federal government shutdown began, and each passing day places global health in deeper jeopardy. What happens in Washington has consequences that reach far beyond politics, touching communities across the world and right here in Connecticut.

The shutdown has stalled or suspended crucial public health efforts, from disease surveillance and clinical research to global vaccination programs and humanitarian aid. These disruptions may seem abstract, but they affect real lives. When agencies lose funding or staff, when programs pause even briefly, the ripple effect can undo decades of progress in preventing disease and saving lives.

As an advocate with Shot@Life, a United Nations Foundation campaign that champions global childhood immunizations, I have seen firsthand how vital American leadership is in protecting health worldwide. Vaccines are among the most effective tools we have to prevent disease, and they rely on continued funding and cooperation across borders. When those efforts stop, children around the world lose access to lifesaving vaccines, and diseases like measles, polio, and pneumonia quickly resurface.

We have already seen warning signs at home. Measles outbreaks have reemerged in parts of the United States because vaccination rates have declined. If preventable diseases can return here, they can spread even more easily in places where healthcare systems are fragile. Polio, which is on the verge of global eradication, could also resurface if global programs are interrupted. The United States has been a driving force in these efforts, and the loss of our leadership threatens to halt that progress.

Connecticut plays a meaningful role in this global health network. Our universities, hospitals, and public health experts collaborate on research, education, and outreach that extend far beyond our borders. The same systems that protect communities abroad also help safeguard us here at home. A strong global health response is a strong local health defense.

This shutdown is more than a budget stalemate. It is a direct threat to public health, both globally and locally. The lives of children, families, and entire communities hang in the balance. As residents, we have a responsibility to urge our lawmakers to take action, to remember that governance affects not only our nation but countless others who look to the United States for leadership, stability, and hope.

True greatness lies not only in power but in compassion. The world watches how we respond in moments like this. Ending the shutdown is not just about reopening offices. It is about reaffirming our commitment to humanity, at home and across the globe.

If you would like to make a difference in global vaccine advocacy, visit shotatlife.org. One call to your members of Congress can help save lives around the world.

— Patrice S., MPH, CPH, Connecticut-03 Resident and Shot@Life Advocate