Governors Public Health Alliance Calls for ACIP to Maintain Evidence-Based Vaccine Guidance Ahead of March Convening
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Ahead of the March 18–19 meeting of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the Governors Public Health Alliance (PHA) submitted public comment urging the Committee to maintain evidence-based vaccine guidance and commit to transparent, scientifically grounded processes that states, providers, and families can rely upon.
According to the meeting notice, the agenda will include updates from ACIP workgroups and discussions on COVID-19 vaccine injuries, Long COVID, and the methodology used to develop ACIP recommendations. PHA’s comment emphasizes that discussions on these topics must be grounded in rigorous scientific review and conducted through transparent advisory processes.
“Governors are responsible for protecting the health of millions of residents and ensuring that families can access safe and effective vaccines,” said Angela Botticella, Managing Director of the Governors Public Health Alliance. “ACIP’s recommendations help shape how vaccines are delivered, covered, and communicated across the country. Maintaining rigorous scientific standards and transparent processes is essential to sustaining public trust and protecting community health.”
In its comment, PHA urges ACIP to:
- Maintain access to safe and effective vaccines that protect children and communities from preventable disease.
- Ground recommendations in the highest-quality scientific evidence, including the established GRADE evidence review process.
- Ensure transparency and predictability in decision-making, particularly when recommendations have significant implications for state health systems and vaccine access.
- Consider the operational impact of policy changes, including effects on insurance coverage, provider workflows, and public health programs.
PHA also raised concerns that recent federal vaccine policy decisions appear to have been made outside of ACIP’s established advisory and evidence review process. When policy decisions are announced first and the advisory process occurs afterward, it undermines the purpose of ACIP’s public deliberations and weakens the transparency that is essential for maintaining public trust in vaccination programs.
The full public comment submitted by the Governors Public Health Alliance is available here.
PHA is an initiative of GovAct, a nonprofit nonpartisan organization that helps governors work across state lines to champion fundamental freedoms and improve people’s lives.
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About the Governors Public Health Alliance
The Governors Public Health Alliance (PHA) is a nonpartisan coalition of governors working together to strengthen public health systems, protect access to evidence-based care, and coordinate responses to health threats across state lines. Supported by GovAct, the Alliance brings together governors and senior state officials to reinforce scientific integrity and ensure communities receive clear, credible health information. To learn more, visit www.govsforhealth.org.
About GovAct
Governors Action Alliance (GovAct) is a nonprofit nonpartisan oganization that helps governors work across state lines to champion fundamental freedoms and improve people’s lives. GovAct serves as a centralized platform for collaboration across governors’ offices—incubating, launching, and supporting alliances of governors. To learn more, visit www.GovActAlliance.org.