Since 2004, the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) has had a member expert serve as a voting or liaison member of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). NAPNAP appreciates the thoughtful comments and scientific insights shared by CDC staff presenters and organizational liaisons on June 25-26, but we are, for the first time in more than two decades of ACIP participation, compelled to question the validity and reliability of the ACIP review and voting process.
The June 25 opening remarks by the ACIP committee chair included unproven claims of past bias and unscientific decision-making by CDC, ACIP and other government agencies. Remarks by several newly appointed voting members revealed their lack of relevant experience and expertise.
Without providing credible evidence challenging the safety and/or efficacy of approved vaccines, the two-day ACIP meeting featured some newly installed voting ACIP members who clearly seek to undermine the validity of long-standing ACIP methods and decisions. Of note:
- New workgroups were authorized to evaluate previously approved vaccines and cumulative effect of the child and adolescent vaccine schedule.
- New members are challenging the timing of MMR vaccine administration in infants/children, inclusion of varicella vaccine with MMR, administration of HepB vaccine at birth and the composition of measle vaccines.
- They focused on injury from thimerosal without providing any causation specifics related to vaccines.
The meeting also showed a lack of organization and adherence to standard ACIP protocols:
- It was unclear whether CDC staff subject matter experts reviewed presentations/documents in advance of posting to the ACIP meeting site.
- At least one pre-posted thimerosal presentation included fabricated research.
- The new ACIP chair failed to post vaccine policy language to be voted on in advance of the meeting.
As we look to the future, NAPNAP will collaborate with organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, National Foundation for Infectious Diseases and others that support immunization recommendations based on rigorous analysis of widely accepted scientific evidence and thoughtful discussion of first-hand clinical experience. We will join forces to urge insurance companies to stand up for science and public health to provide immunization coverage to infants, children, adolescents and families.
We implore the U.S. Senate to approve a CDC director who has significant scientific or medical experience, understands and adheres to long-standing agency protocols, values the experience of the agency’s subject matter experts and staff, and will mandate the use of widely accepted scientific research and evidence in decision-making. Children and families deserve no less.
June 26, 2025
