The following is a message from UCC Wellness Ministries issued in response to recent confusion around acetaminophen. The RMC is reposting this information in order to spread the word.

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UCC Wellness Ministries is committed to supporting the health, safety, and well-being of all  congregations and their community neighbors by providing science-based data and evidence-based  solutions, and by working to ensure equitable access to vaccines, medications, and healthcare  services. We strive to prevent a return to a time seventy-five years ago, when many children died or  became disabled because vaccines were not widely available. 

For over two centuries, God has blessed medical researchers with the ability to learn about  viruses and develop ways to safeguard humanity. As Christians, we are called to care for one another  by sharing accurate information and resources with those trying to decide how to balance their  personal freedom with the collective responsibility of fighting infectious diseases. 

Vaccines are among the safest and most effective tools for stopping the spread of preventable  diseases and protecting public health. Since antibiotics are ineffective against viruses, vaccination  remains the best way to prevent viral infection and stop viruses from spreading. 

Background Information

In the 1940s and 1950s, many countries, including the U.S., established national immunization  programs that required vaccinations for children, initially for smallpox and later for diphtheria,  pertussis, tetanus (DPT), and polio. 

Generations raised in the 1950s and 1960s saw the advantages of mandated vaccines, with  fewer of their siblings and friends getting sick or dying. As adults, they followed medical advice and  vaccinated their children, and the next generation did the same. Today, at least three generations  have experienced the benefits of vaccination programs. 

Annual updates to childhood and adult immunization schedules, based on medical research,  provide guidance for healthcare providers related to new vaccines, recommendations for use, and  updates to existing protocols. Unlike childhood vaccines, which are often required for school entry,  some adolescent and adult vaccines are usually not mandated. 

Unfortunately, confusing messages are being spread about the availability and use of vaccines  for children, adults, and the most medically vulnerable among us. This confusion has led to fewer  people choosing vaccination, even though this increases their risk of illness and death. 

How to Assist Others

When individuals have the freedom to make health care choices, they seek a reliable source  of information. Currently, the information varies from state to state and region to region. In  addition, disinformation complicates vaccine issues and leads to individuals’ hesitancy in getting  vaccinated. 

To learn the latest recommendations: 

• Call the office of your primary care provider 

• Call or check the website of your county and/or state Department of Public Health

• Go to the website of one or more of the professional medical organizations and seek the  evidence-based information that doctors are sharing with their families and in their  practices: 

– American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) www.aap.org: The American Academy of  Pediatrics provides pediatricians with an evidence-based immunization schedule that  includes updated guidance for children and adolescents from birth to age 18. 

– American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) www.aafp.org: Family practice physicians  may work with family members across the lifespan. The AAFP Announces Fall  Immunization Recommendations, Reaffirming Commitment to Vaccine Safety and Public  Health 

– The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) www.acog.org offers  updated clinical guidance on the use of acetaminophen and vaccinations during  pregnancy. 

– American College of Physicians (ACP) www.acponline.org: Physicians mainly working with  adults aim to improve adult immunization and patient outcomes. ACP encourages adults  to get the recommended vaccinations from trusted sources that develop clinical guidance  using transparent, evidence-based methods and safeguards against conflicts of interest.  Resources for adult immunizations 

– The American Medical Association (AMA) provides guidance about vaccines at www.ama assn.org/topics/vaccines 

Materials at these sites are updated as new information and vaccines become available.  However, don’t rely on any site for specific, professional medical advice for your or your  family’s health. Do not use it as a substitute for advice from a physician or other qualified  healthcare provider. For medical concerns, including decisions about vaccinations,  medications, and treatments, always consult your doctor or seek emergency help if needed. 

• Check with your insurer. On Sept. 18, 2025, AHIP, the national trade association representing the  insurance industry, said health plans would commit to “maintaining and ensuring affordable  access to vaccines”. However, they didn’t commit to how long that would happen. 

• Avoid online offers of preventative and curative substances to treat viruses. Don’t purchase  before checking their benefit with your health care provider. 

Please be in contact with WellnessMinistries@UCC.org if you have any questions. We will update this  information as needed in our monthly newsletter Mind, Body, Spirit -Linking Lives for Health and  Wholeness. 

Shalom, 

UCC Wellness Ministries Leadership Team