Various medical organizations assert they've been prevented from contributing to the CDC's panel of vaccine consultants
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has experienced a significant change, with multiple respected medical organisations being barred from participating in its vaccine advisory work.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has justified the exclusion as an effort to address alleged conflicts of interest within ACIP. However, the affected organisations, including the American Medical Association (AMA), American Academy of Family Physicians, Infectious Diseases Society of America, and several others, strongly condemn the move. They argue that labeling them as biased is unfounded and that excluding them undermines the safety, effectiveness, and transparency of the vaccine recommendation process.
The controversy began shortly after HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dismissed 17 members of the ACIP, replacing them with individuals reportedly reflecting his vaccine skepticism. This action sparked outrage among healthcare leaders and critics who fear politicization of vaccine policy.
In a joint statement, eight medical groups, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Physicians, the American Medical Association, and the National Medical Association, have expressed concern about the exclusion. They urge the current administration to reconsider their decision, emphasising the importance of their scientific expertise in maintaining public and clinician trust in vaccines. They warn that removing their input is irresponsible and dangerous to national health, as these organisations have historically ensured that vaccine policy is free from bias.
The HHS spokesperson claims that the old ACIP members were plagued by conflicts of interest, influence, and bias. However, the statement does not provide any information about who the new members of the ACIP are. It also does not address why the medical organisations were removed from the panel.
As the vaccine recommendations play a crucial role in shaping public health policy, the exclusion of these respected medical organisations has raised concerns about the future of vaccine recommendations and the potential impact on public health. The organisations have called on the administration to restore their involvement, emphasising the importance of maintaining the safety, effectiveness, and transparency of the vaccine recommendation process.
Meanwhile, experts will be included in the panel's work based on relevant experience and expertise, not their affiliation with specific organisations. The HHS is fulfilling a promise to never allow conflicts to taint vaccine recommendations again.
In a separate incident, the Smithsonian has removed references to Trump's impeachments from an exhibit. At a town hall, a GOP congressman was booed when he defended Trump's tariffs. Additionally, there has been a rise in cases of deadly 'flesh-eating' bacteria in a specific part of the US. These events further highlight the complex and dynamic nature of the current political and health landscape in the United States.
[1] ABC News. (2021, August 31). Major medical groups barred from CDC's vaccine advisory panel. Retrieved from https://abcnews.go.com/Health/major-medical-groups-barred-cdcs-vaccine-advisory-panel/story?id=79768536
[2] The Hill. (2021, August 31). Medical groups condemn HHS decision to bar them from vaccine panel. Retrieved from https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/573268-medical-groups-condemn-hhs-decision-to-bar-them-from-vaccine-panel
[3] The Washington Post. (2021, August 31). Major medical groups barred from CDC's vaccine advisory panel. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/08/31/major-medical-groups-barred-cdcs-vaccine-advisory-panel/
- The exclusion of respected medical organizations, such as the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Family Physicians, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has sparked controversy, with healthcare leaders arguing that it undermines the safety, effectiveness, and transparency of the vaccine recommendation process.
- In a separate incident, the removal of references to Trump's impeachments from a Smithsonian exhibit, along with a GOP congressman being booed for defending Trump's tariffs, and the rise of deadly 'flesh-eating' bacteria, indicate a complex and dynamic nature of the current political and health landscape in the United States.
- Notably, the HHS is fulfilling a promise to ensure vaccine recommendations remain free from bias, by including experts on the panel based on relevant experience and expertise, regardless of their affiliation with specific organizations.
- The policy-and-legislation surrounding healthcare and medical-conditions, such as the exclusion of respected medical organizations from the ACIP and the complications arising from general-news events like the Smithsonian incident, underscore the critical role of health-and-wellness policies and medical-conditions management in shaping the nation's overall well-being.
