ACIP Vote Sparks Concern Over Childhood Vaccine Access
Atlanta, GA – A recent vote by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) to remove childhood vaccines from the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program eligibility has raised alarms among public health advocates and state officials, perhaps leaving hundreds of thousands of uninsured or underinsured children vulnerable to preventable diseases. The decision, finalized on February 23, 2024, shifts vaccine purchasing responsibility to states, a move critics fear will create logistical hurdles and exacerbate existing inequities in healthcare access.
The ACIP vote stems from Congress’s failure to allocate additional funding for the VFC program, which provides vaccines to eligible children who might otherwise go without. While the CDC will continue to purchase vaccines for the VFC program, states will now be responsible for covering the costs of administering those vaccines, as well as purchasing vaccines for children not covered by the VFC program. This change impacts an estimated 31.4 million children in the United States, with the potential for significant disparities in vaccination rates depending on state resources and policy decisions.
Several states are already taking steps to mitigate the impact. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is exploring the creation of a state-funded vaccine program for uninsured and underinsured children, citing a lack of trust in the CDC as a motivating factor. Similar coalitions are forming in the Northeast and Northwest to establish regional expert advisory groups and ensure continued access to vaccinations.
The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the Infectious Disease Society of America have all issued recommendations emphasizing the importance of evidence-based vaccination schedules and urging continued efforts to maintain high immunization rates.These organizations serve as key resources for accurate information amidst growing vaccine hesitancy and misinformation.
