As ACIP Scrutiny Mounts, Medical Leaders and Health Advocates Warn of Eroding Access to Vaccines

Ahead of the Sept. 18-19 meeting of the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), leading medical groups and advocacy organizations emphasized significant concerns about ACIP members’ guidance on vaccine policy.

More than 5,100 individuals and groups submitted written public comments ahead of the meeting, the first since the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services added five more members without the traditional vetting process. Their concerns covered specific therapeutic areas under consideration, the role of ACIP in vaccine access and coverage, and myriad ways changing guidance will hurt children and adults’ health.

Here’s an overview of top organizations’ statements, with links to their full submissions. PFID’s comment letter is available here.

Alliance for Women’s Health and Prevention

“AWHP is concerned by the fact that the nation’s medical societies — representing hundreds of thousands of medical professionals across the country — have differing recommendations from the ACIP’s for the first time in history. We cannot ignore this divergence, especially given that these medical societies review extensive evidence in their decision-making. We must not question the commitment of these groups to protecting the health of the patients that they serve.”

Full statement here.

American Academy of Pediatrics

“We are dismayed by the decision of CDC to prohibit representatives from organizational liaisons from participating in ACIP work groups. These work groups are instrumental to the committee in reviewing data on vaccines and providing draft recommendations. It is important for CDC to be able to communicate openly with medical organizations on issues that come before ACIP, particularly to discuss implementation issues with new recommendations. Not allowing liaison representatives on ACIP’s work groups removes subject matter expertise and calls into question the work product of these groups.”

Full statement here.

American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists

“The Maternal Immunization Task Force strongly reaffirms the importance of recommending and advocating for all routinely recommended maternal vaccines and the hepatitis B vaccine at birth for all newborns. The proven safety and efficacy of these vaccines have led to their recommendation during pregnancy and after birth. Yet, the continued decline in vaccination rates among this population highlights a critical need: a renewed commitment to educating the public and patients on the benefits of vaccination and removing barriers to access.”

Full statement here.

American Pharmacists Association

“As one of the most successful immunizing professionals, pharmacists’ authority to immunize is crucial in the health care system, providing the scientifically proven best defensive possible against vaccine-preventable diseases. In many states, pharmacists’ authority to administer immunizations is tightly bound to ACIP and CDC guidance throughout state statues, regulations, and protocols. … Patients will lose access to vaccine services in almost every state if ACIP integrity is not maintained or if undue restrictions are placed on vaccine access by ACIP.

Full statement here.

American Society for Meningitis Prevention

“ACIP recommendations are not abstract, they have real-life impact. They determine whether insurance covers vaccines, whether families can access them easily at pharmacies and clinics, and whether protection is available during pregnancy, infancy, or outbreaks. If recommendations are restricted or delayed, millions could face higher costs, added barriers, and missed protection.”

Full statement here.

Immunization Alliance for Equity and Access 

“We firmly believe that every parent has the right to make informed decisions for their children. However, those decisions must be guided by clear, objective, and scientifically rigorous recommendations. Eliminating the universal recommendation would create unnecessary barriers and confusion, limiting access to the vaccine and undermining parents’ ability to choose to protect their babies.”

Full statement here.

Infectious Diseases Society of America

“Reliable information is essential to preserve vaccine access for all Americans who want and need to be vaccinated, enable clinicians to offer the highest quality care and empower individuals to make the best-informed decisions about their own health and their families’ health. Recommendations should be based on high-quality, objective scientific data collected and analyzed by CDC scientists and not influenced by political appointees.”

Full statement here.

National Coalition for Infant Health

“Protecting infants, especially those most vulnerable to respiratory illness, requires timely access to care and meaningful clinical choice. No single preventive option works for every family, every provider, or every setting. Families deserve not only access to safe and effective immunizations, but also the flexibility to make informed decisions—aided by broad, inclusive recommendations — with their healthcare providers.”

Full statement here.

National Consumers League

"NCL's founder, born in 1859, lost multiple siblings to diphtheria and other diseases that are simply unknown to Americans today because of vaccines. It's worth remembering that the great president Abraham Lincoln lost two sons to diseases for which children can now be immunized against — one from tuberculosis at nearly 4 years old, and another to typhoid at 11. The heartbreak remained with Mr. Lincoln and his wife for the remainder of their lives. We never want to return to those dark days."

Full statement here.

National Foundation for Infectious Diseases

“NFID strongly supports the continued use of expert, evidence-based guidance to inform public health policy and protect the health of people across the US. NFID would like to emphasize the importance of the ACIP’s systematic review of scientific evidence and disease impact to guide US vaccine policy.”

Full statement here. 

Prevent Cancer Foundation

“The hepatitis B vaccine is safe, effective, and well-studied. Over four decades of CDC research show only mild side effects, and the vaccine has been administered over one billion times worldwide, providing lasting protection.”

Full statement here.