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Currently, CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) allows 30 healthcare special interest groups—many with blatant ties to the pharmaceutical industry—to send representatives to serve as non-voting members of the committee. While HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently prohibited these so-called “liaison organizations” from participating in ACIP work groups, these organizations remain on the committee and retain far too much influence on decisions that impact the safety of every child in America.
The ACIP liaison members represent healthcare professionals, insurance companies, and pharmaceutical manufacturers—all deeply invested in the profitability of vaccine programs. These are not just “potentially” biased groups. Take one liaison member, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). PhRMA happens to be one of Washington’s top lobbying spenders, representing companies like Pfizer and Merck. Another liaison member is the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), which recently took the legally and morally indefensible position of calling for the removal all non-medical vaccine exemptions in all 50 states and a crackdown on medical exemptions.
With the health of millions of children on the line, it’s egregious that any member of the ACIP committee profits financially from an ever-expanding vaccine schedule.
But as long as industry groups are permitted to participate in the meetings, there must be balance. That’s why ICAN’s attorneys sent a letter to Secretary Kennedy asking that he add the following vaccine-safety focused organizations as non-voting liaison organizations:
- Association of American Physicians & Surgeons (AAPS)
- Children’s Health Defense (CHD)
- Medical Academy of Pediatrics & Special Needs (MAPS)
- Physicians for Informed Consent (PIC)
- Informed Consent Action Network (ICAN)
This small yet important step would help counter the pernicious influence of private industry over public health policy. We’ll keep fighting to put safety first—not last—when it comes to vaccines and our children’s health. We would be honored to serve ACIP as a non-voting liaison organization.
