The National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) strongly objects to Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) latest attempt to silence volunteer subject matter experts. For more than two decades, NAPNAP has been a valuable participant in ACIP, as both a voting member and liaison member. Our infectious disease and immunization experts have joined representatives from other leading health care organizations to provide CDC scientists with real-time clinical experiences, collaborative analysis of the evidence and discussion about life-or-death implications in vaccine recommendations.

In spite of NAPNAP’s unblemished record of public service and expertise in optimizing child health and well-being, on July 31, the ACIP Secretariat notified all liaison organizations that their volunteers are now prohibited from participating in ACIP workgroups because the organizations are considered “special interest groups” and “expected to have a ’bias’ based on their constituency.” The subject matter experts who represent NAPNAP and other health care organizations are clinicians with highly valuable expertise and experience who volunteer their time to collaborate with CDC staff in detailed analysis and discussion of infectious disease data and related vaccine information. Locking these experts out of ACIP workgroups is yet another attempt to keep evidence-based, widely accepted science out of vaccine discussions and decision making.

After 20+ years of faithful service, the ACIP Secretariat now considers NAPNAP a special interest group susceptible to bias. We vehemently reject this accusation of bias. We and our 8,000 members are proud to fight for increased access to health care services and improved child health outcomes. We remain grateful for our liaisons’ dedicated participation in ACIP’s meetings and workgroups.

 

Aug. 4, 2025