IDSA Leaders Condemn Meeting of Newly Constituted Vaccines Advisory Board

The leaders of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), the Washington, D.C.-based association representing clinical and scientific leaders in the infectious diseases space, on June 26 released a statement following the first meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the body that advises leaders at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on immunization policy, since Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired all 17 members of ACIP on June 9 and then on June 11 replaced them with new members, some of them controversial.

In a statement posted to IDSA’s website on June 26, Tina Tan, M.D., IDSA’s president, stated that “This week’s meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP, was politicized, chaotic and not transparent. That kind of process is harmful to the American people. Agenda items were added last minute, limiting the ability of members to review data. Disclosures about potential conflicts of interest of the newly appointed ACIP members have not been made public.”

Dr. Tan added that “Re-examining the childhood vaccine schedule and the use of thimerosal are both politically motivated actions that are not based on science. Raising questions without adequate data casts doubt on vaccination, which can further drive down confidence in vaccines. More than any other medications, vaccines are extensively and constantly reviewed and evaluated. Vaccination saves lives. The American people deserve an objective and transparent review process based on scientific evidence, not political agendas with no basis in facts,” she concluded.

The association notes that “the Infectious Diseases Society of America is a global community of 13,000 clinicians, scientists and public health experts working together to solve humanity’s smallest and greatest challenges, from tiny microbes to global outbreaks. Rooted in science, committed to health equity and driven by curiosity, our compassionate and knowledgeable members safeguard the health of individuals, our communities and the world by advancing the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases.”

And as it notes on its website, the IDSA’s mission is “To bring together the curiosity, compassion and knowledge of our members to strengthen the field of infectious diseases, advance science and advocate for health equity.”