Vaccine Committee Conflicts of Interest Disclosed

Over the past few years, consumer trust in the health industry has diminished. According to a recent Pew study, 57% of people said false and misleading information about the virus and vaccines contributed to society's problems.

Furthermore, many people have unanswered immunization questions due to the postponement of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) vaccine meeting for February 26, 2025.

To increase community trust in the vaccine authorization process, the CDC recently launched a digital search tool to increase transparency about the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) conflicts of interest (COI).

Revealed on March 7, 2025, people can use this free tool to quickly find previous conflicts of interest COI disclosures by ACIP members from 2000 to 2024.

This COI information is essential since the CDC's director sets immunization schedules based on recommendations from the ACIP.

ACIP members must declare any potential or perceived conflicts of interest during their tenure and any relevant business interests, positions of authority, or other connections with organizations pertinent to the committee's efforts.

ACIP Members with declared interests are instructed to recuse themselves from participating in the deliberations and votes regarding any product for which they have a conflict of interest.

In addition, they must refrain from voting on other products from that manufacturer and on vaccines from different companies that directly compete with the product for which they have a conflict of interest.

The ACIP disclosure list includes members who have declared a conflict of interest and does not list members who have not had a conflict of interest.

While previous CDC directors may have concerns about COI disclosures, others welcome open discussions.

Former U.S. CDC Director Tom Frieden, MD, MPH, commented on X on March 7, 2025, "Here's the plain truth: ACIP, made up of pediatricians, public health specialists & parents, is the gold standard for open, transparent recommendations on vaccine safety and effectiveness."

The ACIP was established under section 222 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. §2l7a) and is governed by its charter. It uses committee subgroups to review relevant published and unpublished data. These groups review specific topics in detail and clarify issues, helping ACIP voting members make informed and efficient decisions with the best and most current information available.

As of the end of 2024, the following work groups are active: Chikungunya, Combined Child/Adolescent and Adult Immunization Schedules, COVID-19, Cytomegalovirus, HPV, Influenza, Meningococcal, Mpox, Pneumococcal, and RSV vaccines.

With new leadership confirmed, there is significant optimism about the future of healthcare and immunization policies in the U.S. Many have stated that trust must be earned daily.

The CDC and other health organizations encourage patients to have open conversations with doctors, nurses, and pharmacists about their options for living life to the fullest in 2025.