Governors Public Health Alliance Submits Public Comment Urging ACIP to Protect Children’s Access to Safe, Effective Vaccines
Alliance calls on federal advisory committee to ground recommendations in strong scientific evidence and consider real-world implications for states
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Governors Public Health Alliance (PHA)—a nonpartisan coalition of 15 governors committed to safeguarding public health—submitted formal public comment to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) ahead of its December 2025 meeting. The Alliance urged ACIP to maintain science-based, transparent, and consistent childhood immunization recommendations that protect families and support states’ ability to implement effective vaccination programs.
In its comment, the Alliance emphasized the shared responsibility of federal and state leaders to ensure that every child has access to safe and effective vaccines and outlined concerns about potential changes – such as modifications to the Hepatitis B schedule – that could have significant downstream effects across the full childhood immunization program.
“Across the country, governors are working to preserve trust in public health and protect children’s health with strong, evidence-based vaccination programs,” said Angela Botticella, Managing Director of the Governors Public Health Alliance. “ACIP’s recommendations carry tremendous weight. Any changes must be grounded in rigorous science and accompanied with an understanding of how those recommendations will impact families, providers, insurers, state immunization systems, and overall public health.”
In its submission, the PHA urged ACIP to:
- Maintain access to and confidence in safe and effective vaccines that protect children’s health and wellbeing;
- Ground all recommendations in high-quality scientific evidence, including established evidence review frameworks;
- Consider the operational implications for governors, state agencies, and the families they serve, recognizing that such changes are likely to reduce immunization rates and impose significant financial burdens on states;
- Ensure transparency, clarity, and predictability, which are foundational to public trust in vaccination programs.
The Alliance also highlighted that major shifts in long-standing schedules, particularly those affecting infants and young children, require comprehensive consideration of implementation, coverage impacts, insurance frameworks, and continuity of care.
The full comment submitted by the Governors Public Health Alliance is available here.
The ACIP meeting will take place December 4–5, 2025, with vaccine recommendations to be considered publicly.
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About GovAct
Governors Action Alliance (GovAct) is a nonprofit nonpartisan initiative 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. These alliances share cutting-edge policy and legal approaches to some of the most challenging and critical issues we face. To learn more, go to www.GovActAlliance.org.
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 share best practices, reinforce scientific integrity, and ensure communities receive clear, credible health information.