The recent dismissal of all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has surprised and saddened many of us within the medical and public health communities. The sudden removal and subsequent selection of eight new members, including those known to be vaccine critics, raises serious concern about the continuity, credibility and scientific integrity of national vaccine guidance.
As the primary body advising the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on vaccine schedules and safety, ACIP plays an incredibly important role in protecting the public from infectious diseases. The removal of ACIP’s experienced, credentialed members — many of whom were appointed just last year, including Dr. Helen Chu of Seattle — threatens to destabilize our existing framework and potentially delay important decision-making, particularly considering the critical role vaccines play in safeguarding the health of older adults and individuals with chronic conditions.
The Washington chapter of the Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medical Association, which I represent, supports the response from PALTmed’s national president, Dr. Sabine von Preyss-Friedman, who recently issued a statement expressing her concern over this decision.
Further, in the absence of clear, trusted federal guidance, we believe that Washington state must act decisively to ensure stability and consistency with our state’s public health policy. We call on Gov. Bob Ferguson, the Washington State Department of Health and our state legislators to:
- Ensure the Washington State Vaccine Advisory Committee offers a swift response to the destabilized federal guidance program to ensure Washingtonians continue to have access to recommended vaccines, and their insurance coverage will provide the preventative care that ensures optimal health outcomes for our community.
- If the ACIP schedule changes, VAC will reaffirm its commitment to evidence-based medicine by publicly endorsing an immunization schedule that is scientifically vetted and maintains today’s rigorous standards.
- Increase transparency and communication with health care systems, individual physicians, nurse practitioners, physician associates, public health professionals and the public to maintain trust in our state’s vaccination programs.
Washingtonians deserve to know that their health is being guided by science. Our state has long been a leader in public health innovation and response, and we should continue to be proactive in outlining the best practices for our citizens, especially when faced with instability in leadership on the national level.
As medical professionals who serve the most vulnerable medical populations in our community — older adults, those in long-term and acute care settings and those with chronic disease — PALTmed members learned firsthand the critical importance of clear, science-based medical guidance and decisive leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are asking our state leaders to act now to safeguard the health of our communities and provide consistent, well-researched vaccine guidelines that minimize disruptions that may potentially endanger public health. Our patients deserve nothing less.
