November 19, 2025

Fighting anti-vax bills in a red state — and winning

In the wake of the pandemic, North Dakota, like many states, suddenly saw a splintering of opinion around vaccines and other critical public health issues. "Not only was I concerned about the decline of vaccinations, but I was even more concerned about the fabric of communities," Sandy Tibke, executive director of the Foundation for a Healthy North Dakota, said.

So she teamed up with consultant Josh Gryniewicz. Together, they crisscrossed North Dakota, hosting listening sessions on health-related topics that went well beyond vaccines. They worked with everyone from nurses to nuns, cowboys to barbers, veterinarians to chiropractors, to engage people without the "dehumanizing" language that so often crops up in these debates. Now, they hope that other states might replicate their model.

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