Strengthening Independent Vaccine Evaluations and Recommendations in the U.S.
Established in 1964, CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has been widely regarded as one of the world's leading national immunization technical advisory groups, helping establish international standards for transparent, evidence-based vaccine recommendation processes. However, Over the past year and a half, the federal vaccine policy landscape has undergone significant change, including the dismissal and replacement of ACIP members , and changes to the federal childhood immunization schedule that a federal court later invalidated (along with the actions impacting ACIP). As of today, the Committee does not exist, and a recent White House Executive Order suggests the current administration prefers to diminish ACIP’s role moving forward, along with the independence of US vaccine policymaking.
This Vaccine Integrity Project initiative focuses on the federal vaccine evaluation and recommendation process, zeroing in on the role historically played by ACIP and CDC. Through stakeholder engagement sessions, public input and comparative analyses, we will explore options for strengthening scientific independence, transparency, conflict-of-interest protections, emergency response capabilities, and continuity across administrations. The effort will engage former ACIP members, public health officials, medical and professional societies, patient advocate representatives, insurers, manufacturers, and other stakeholders. The Vaccine Integrity Project is working with The Evidence Collective (TEC), which is launching a complementary initiative designed to improve US vaccine policymaking and strengthen public trust in vaccines.
The goal is to produce policy and process options that leaders of future US health departments and agencies can evaluate and adopt.
Our Process
- Gathering Feedback: We will conduct a series of facilitated discussions with a broad spectrum of stakeholders including former ACIP members, public health organizations, medical and professional societies, and more to ensure our findings are grounded in diverse perspectives. We will also collect public feedback via an online survey.
- Developing Actionable Options: Based on feedback gathered, our team will work to formulate concrete options for strengthening a future advisory body grounded in science and transparency.
- Informing Future Policy: Our primary deliverable will be a public report, anticipated before the end of 2026, which will summarize input and provide evidence-based, actionable options.
Take the Survey
Share your thoughts on the future of federal vaccine policy and governance.
Coming Summer 2026.
