Shapiro Administration Urges CDC Advisory Committee Protect Access to Vaccines | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, PA - Ahead of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices' (ACIP) September meeting, the Shapiro Administration urged members of ACIP to take decisive, scientifically-informed action to protect vaccine access in Pennsylvania and ensure parents and individuals maintain the freedom to make health care decisions for themselves and their children.

This is just the latest step Governor Josh Shapiro has taken to ensure Pennsylvanians have the freedom to make their own health care choices, after he called on the State Board of Pharmacy earlier this month to protect COVID vaccine access for those most in need and provide clarity for Pennsylvanians, many of whom were left confused and frustrated after the Trump Administration upended COVID vaccine access across the country.

At this week's meeting, ACIP members will consider a wide range of immunization topics, including discussions on:

• COVID-19 vaccines;
• Hepatitis B vaccine;
• measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (MMRV) vaccine; and
• Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).

The agenda is also likely to include recommendation votes for these vaccines as well as Vaccines for Children (VFC) program votes.

If ACIP were to abandon its recommendations for safe and effective vaccines, it could become much harder for individuals who actively seek vaccinations to obtain them because the lack of a recommendation often translates into lack of insurance coverage, limited provider availability, and patient and provider confusion.

In the public comment, the Shapiro Administration urges ACIP to recommend these vaccines to all populations indicated in prior ACIP recommendations in order to facilitate timely insurance coverage, minimize consumer and health care provider confusion, and ensure that individuals who wish to receive vaccines can do so without barriers. Clear, consistent recommendations help to align payers, providers, and public health systems and result in widely available access to vaccinations. In the letter, the Administration strongly urges ACIP to uphold its recommendations for vaccines that have demonstrated irrefutable public health benefit, in some cases for generations.

At a time when the federal government is sowing distrust of science-backed health care guidance, Governor Shapiro is cutting through the noise to make sure Pennsylvania families have the information they need to make informed decisions about their health care. ACIP's vaccine recommendations are an important piece of allowing families and individuals to remain in control of those decisions.

It's important to note that ACIP's vaccine recommendations do not impose a vaccine mandate or requirement on Pennsylvanians in any way; rather, it protects their right to choose what's best for them. However, if ACIP withdraws its recommendation, that could directly restrict choice.

Proper immunization is one of the most powerful and cost-effective tools for preventing serious illnesses, reducing hospitalizations, and protecting those who are most vulnerable to severe illness. Vaccines not only safeguard individuals but also strengthen the resilience of entire communities - keeping children in school, parents in the workforce, and health care systems from being overwhelmed during seasonal surges. Consistent and science-driven recommendations from ACIP are therefore essential to preserving both individual autonomy and collective well-being.

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