Experts Warn Federal Vaccine Decisions Are Undermining America’s Access and Trust

Medical and scientific experts raised concern last week about the trajectory of U.S. federal vaccine policy, telling Congressional staff at PFID’s Capitol Hill briefing that repeated institutional undermining is jeopardizing public trust, innovation, and children's health.

Their concerns focused on recent decisions by federal agencies and the CDC’s newly overhauled Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). The speakers criticized the groups for failing to uphold the tradition of evidence-based policymaking and recommendations.

Former Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX), an obstetrician-gynecologist, reflected favorably on America’s "long and proud history" of pacing the world in vaccine science and immunization policy.

“That leadership is built not only on the remarkable science behind the vaccines but on the trusted framework that evaluates evidence, weighs the risks and benefits, and provides guidance to families and physicians," Burgess said. "When those processes lose transparency or independence, confidence falters. Without confidence, even the best vaccines can’t do their job.”

Dr. Jesse Goodman, former chief scientist at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), said the FDA has long observed a culture of commitment to robust, data-driven dialogue.

There would be internal disagreement at times, he said. But scientific consensus and strategic public input always served as a foundation.

Many of these career scientists are still at the FDA, but he’s worried their voices and expertise are no longer utilized as guiding forces.

"The public can feel very assured by the history of the FDA and what it’s done" he said. "But I fear, in a more subtle way perhaps than the CDC, that that's at risk now. If our FDA starts making bizarre and unprecedented decisions, I think groups like the WHO and the European Medicines Agency are going to look at regulatory decisions at the FDA and begin to question them and question the FDA’s status as a world leader.

"If there is anything in government that’s been a gold standard, it’s the FDA as a regulatory agency, and I really would not like to see that undermined.”

ACIP drew pointed criticism from Dr. Tina Tan, a pediatric infectious diseases physician at Northwestern University and president of Infectious Diseases Society of America.

She said the panel no longer inspires trust after the abrupt dismissal and unvetted replacement of all independent experts and working groups this summer.

“The ACIP that is currently in place is filled with members that absolutely lack the qualifications and the expertise for that job," Tan said. "They’re making recommendations that are directly contradicting the best science we have."

She cited ACIP’s recent change to not recommend the measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV) vaccine for children under 4.

"This is taking away choice from parents because now kids are going to need two separate vaccines: MMR and varicella," Tan said. "A lot of times, that’s going to require two separate doctor appointments. This is going to lead to missed opportunities to vaccinate or very delayed opportunities to vaccinate, and that’s a problem."

With proven childhood protection against hepatitis B and other diseases expected to be under review at future meetings, the speakers warned that any departure from evidence-driven policy risks leaving children unprotected and public confidence in decline, weakening the very tools that save lives.

Click here to watch a recording of the Sept. 23 briefing.