The union for employees at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is warning that misinformation surrounding vaccines is creating a dangerous environment in which to do their work. 

The union asked leadership at the Department of Health and Human Services to condemn vaccine disinformation following a shooting at the CDC headquarters in Atlanta in which the gunman claimed the COVID-19 vaccine made him depressed and suicidal.

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“The deliberate targeting of CDC through this violent act is deeply disturbing, completely unacceptable, and an attack on every public servant,” a local division of the American Federation of Government Employees union, said in a statement. “It was motivated by vaccine disinformation, which continues to pose a dangerous threat to public health and safety.”

The statement added that the CDC and HHS “leadership is critical in reinforcing public trust and ensuring that accurate, science-based information prevails.”

“Condemnation is necessary to help prevent violence against scientists that may be incited by such disinformation,” it continued.

The gunman killed one police officer last week after being denied entry to the CDC headquarters.

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has sown doubts about the effectiveness of vaccines for years. Since being appointed, he has removed every member of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and reversed several vaccine policies.

AFGE, Local 2883 said, “This tragedy was not random and it compounds months of mistreatment, neglect, and vilification that CDC staff have endured.”

Kennedy condemned the violence, but didn’t directly touch on anti-vaccine sentiment expressed against the CDC.

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“We know how shaken our public health colleagues feel today. No one should face violence while working to protect the health of others,” he said.

In response to the shooting, the union also called for more flexibility for remote work, a “safe and delayed” return to office, security updates, and a response from Congress “to end the reckless politicization of federal employees.”