35th Anniversary

1970s

Rosalynn Carter and Betty Bumpers first joined forces as Governors’ Spouses in their home states of Georgia and Arkansas to increase vaccination rates in their own states. Betty Bumper’s efforts resulted in an increase from 20% vaccination rates to 70% within two years. She then worked to encourage other First Spouses to prioritize immunization of the children in their home states.

1990s

In 1991, in response to a U.S. epidemic which sickened more than 55,000 people, hospitalized 11,000, and killed more than 120 people, many of whom were young children, Rosalynn Carter and Betty Bumpers cofounded Every Child By Two (ECBT). Within two years of the ECBT establishment, they traveled to more than a dozen states and ultimately to all 50 states to foster vaccination efforts and build immunization coalitions. They were the catalysts behind the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program and efforts to ensure children and pregnant people with WIC benefits are screened for immunizations.

They worked side by side with the American Nurses Association and provider groups, including AAP, to implement educational programs for healthcare workers and ensure that vaccination became part of the medical home services.

2000s

Anti-vaccine leaders emerged in the early 2000s to question the safety of immunizations. ECBT pivoted from community engagement to addressing vaccine hesitancy by becoming a primary source of vaccine safety information for both the media and the public. We were the first pro-vaccine group on social media sites, including Facebook, and our efforts to build vaccine confidence continue. 

2010s

Vaccine hesitancy grew nationally, and the organization deepened its focus on trusted messengers. Healthcare providers, parents, community and faith leaders leaned into community-level relationship-building. Every Child By Two became Vaccinate Your Family (VYF) in 2016 to address significant gaps in adults and older adult vaccination, as well as children. The organization recognized that protection cannot stop at age two, twelve, or adulthood—it belongs to everyone throughout their lifetime. This expansion reflected three and a half decades of learning from the families the organization served.

2020s

The COVID-19 pandemic tested public trust, equitable access, and the relationship between government and families. The lessons learned over 30 years deepened VYF’s role as a credible, steady voice for science-based prevention during a historic public health challenge. We returned to our community roots, expanding partnerships to reach every person in the US with credible information and a pathway to immunization.