Tina Tan, MD, on ACIP meeting postponement, public vaccine information reports
"Vaccines are our absolute best defense for protecting people of all ages against many serious infectious diseases," Tan said in a statement as president of IDSA.
Contemporary Pediatrics' editor-in-chief, Tina Tan, MD, FIDSA, FPIDS, FAAP, is also the president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), a community of over 13,000 physicians, scientists and public health experts who specialize in infectious diseases.1
According to IDSA's website, the society's purpose to improve the health of individuals, communities, and society by promoting excellence in patient care, education, research, public health, and prevention relating to infectious diseases.1
On February 21, 2025, Tan, in her capacity as president of IDSA, made a statement based on reports of the CDC stopping an influenza vaccination campaign and the potential removal of publicly-available vaccine data.2,3
In addition, Tan commented on the postponement of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meeting, originally—slated to begin on February 26, 2025—with a make-up date to be determined.4
"Reports that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been ordered to remove public information on vaccines, including information encouraging people to get vaccinated against flu, leaves Americans with fewer tools to make critical decisions in consultation with their doctors to protect themselves and their families," the statement read in part.4
"Postponing a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices delays vital discussions and needed decisions on a variety of vaccines by trusted and well-vetted experts," said Tan.4
Our sister publication Contagion conducted the above interview with Tan, in which she stated the role of the ACIP is crucial, in that it is the committee's recommendations that can lead to implementation of newly FDA approved vaccines, such as GSK's meningococcal vaccine MenABCWY (Penmenvy).5,6
The vaccine, which was approved by the FDA on February 14, 2025, was set to be one of the topics of the now postponed ACIP meeting. The approval is indicated for use in individuals aged 10 to 25 years.6
“If the committee is not able to meet and discuss the evidence for the use of these vaccines, then these vaccines cannot be recommended and cannot be used," said Tan in the interview.
"The FDA can approve a vaccine, but they don't make the recommendations for the use of the vaccines to the American public. It really is the CDC ACIP that comes out with those recommendations, and all this is based on very scientifically sound data,” added Tan.
References:
1. Mission & Values. IDSA. Accessed February 25, 2025. https://www.idsociety.org/about-idsa/mission-values/
2. Tan T. Statement on Removal of Vaccine Promotion and ACIP Meeting Postponement. IDSA. Press release. February 21, 2025. Accessed February 25, 2025. https://www.idsociety.org/news--publications-new/articles/2025/statement-on-acip-meeting-postponement-and-removal-of-vaccine-information/
3. Stone W. Trump administration yanks CDC flu vaccine campaign. NPR. February 20,2025. Accessed February 25, 2025.
https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/02/19/nx-s1-5302906/cdc-flu-vaccine-campaign-terminated
4. ACIP Meeting February 26-28, 2025 Postponed. CDC. Accessed February 26, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/acip/index.html
5. Parkinson J. IDSA Makes Statement on HHS Changes to Vaccine Policy, Postponement of Vaccine Meeting. Contagion. February 25, 2025. Accessed February 26, 2025.
