SHEA Comments on the Updated ACIP Charter

The updated charter of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) raises concerns about the future of science-based vaccine guidance in the United States.

ACIP has long served as a trusted authority for balanced, evidence-driven recommendations, grounded in rigorous evaluation of vaccine safety, effectiveness, and public health benefit. The revised charter risks undermining that foundation by elevating vaccine safety considerations without equal recognition of the well-established benefits of immunization and the prevention of serious disease.

The changes to the committee’s structure and definition of expertise may also risk moving away from the evidence-based scientific and clinical knowledge that has historically guided ACIP’s work. Maintaining that expertise is essential to preserving the committee’s credibility and the public’s confidence in vaccination practices. It is especially important to healthcare personnel and patient safety.

At a time when vaccine-preventable diseases pose a real threat, clear, transparent, and science-based guidance is more important than ever. Ensuring ACIP continues to reflect these principles will be critical to sustaining trust in vaccines and protecting public health. SHEA believes that ACIP must remain nonpartisan and ensure that the conduct of its meetings and the development of clinical recommendations are guided by scientific evidence and public health expertise, independent of any administration’s political objectives, to protect public health now and in the future.