Upon the conclusion of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) meeting, the ACIP published a joint statement regarding their decisions.
Key decisions:
· ACIP voted in favor of (5-2), a single dose of clesrovimab to protect infants from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
· ACIP unanimously voted in favor of (7-0) “the updated Vaccines for Children Program resolution for prevention of RSV.”
· ACIP unanimously voted in favor of (6-0) the annual vaccine for influenza for individuals “aged over six months who do not have contraindications.”
· ACIP voted in favor of (5-1) one dose of seasonal flu vaccines “that are free of thimerosal as a preservative” for those under 18, pregnant women, and all adults.
These decisions are currently being evaluated by CDC’s Director.
ACIP’s joint statement:
“Honesty, transparency and compassion with regard to public health. These are the three pillars that we, the new ACIP members, are guided by. Our central duty is to protect public health, and we understand that we must answer the call for reestablishing confidence in the scientific examination process. This committee strongly supports the use of vaccines, and other countermeasures, predicated on evidence-based medicine, including rigorous evaluation and expansive credible scientific data, for both safety and efficacy.
All stakeholders including healthcare providers, parents, children, schools, nursing homes, insurance providers, public health agencies, manufacturers and the rare few who may be harmed by recommended interventions, need to have understandable, digestible, scientifically correct information. This group is committed to providing that information and in order to do so we must have data representing large populations. Data collection is a central question that may require constructing a broad risk-benefit analysis. The committee will endeavor to assess the status of programs that are intended to collect data from large populations that have, or have not, received vaccines. These data are needed in order to assess both adverse short and long term side effects and to evaluate the magnitude of side effects.
We came to this meeting with no pre-determined ideas and will make judgements as if we are treating our own families. Unbiased scientific thinking is fundamental to the committee's charge. Our votes are recommendations, but we know that some may perceive them as mandates, so we take this responsibility very seriously. We pledge to not hold a vote if there is not sufficient information to enable evaluation of the risks and benefits.
This committee is not in competition with other committees, organizations, or each other – we are all in competition with the infectious diseases and we will work together to ensure the best outcomes for public health.”
