An open letter to the American public on respiratory virus vaccines, posted on the American Medical Association website on June 25, stressed the vital importance of vaccines for influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and COVID-19 as a means “to protect the public against these illnesses and their potentially serious complications.”1
The open letter was signed by more than 75 medical societies — including the American College of Chest Physicians, the American Thoracic Society, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, and the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology — as well as many other primary care and specialty societies.1
“We come together as physicians from every corner of medicine to reaffirm our commitment to these lifesaving vaccines,” the authors stated.1
The timing of the letter coincided with the first meeting of the newly reconstituted Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which convened on June 25 and 26 to discuss vaccines for COVID-19, influenza, RSV, measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV), anthrax, and chikungunya.2
“
Recent changes to federal immunization review processes raised concerns across the medical and public health community. In this moment of uncertainty, physicians must align around clear, evidence-based guidance for patients.
On June 9, Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr — an acknowledged vaccine skeptic3 — replaced the 17 current Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) members, saying “A clean sweep is necessary to reestablish public confidence in vaccine science.” He further noted that all of those members had been selected by the Biden administration.4
Removal of the 17 sitting ACIP members was immediately decried by numerous medical societies. This included the American Medical Association, whose president stated that this action undermined public trust in the ACIP’s longstanding evidence-based guidance — upending “a transparent process that has saved countless lives” — and that this upheaval of the ACIP would “further fuel the spread of vaccine-preventable illnesses.”5
Accordingly, the authors of the June 25 open letter to the American public stated that, “Recent changes to federal immunization review processes raised concerns across the medical and public health community. In this moment of uncertainty, physicians must align around clear, evidence-based guidance for patients.”1
The letter emphasized that the undersigned medical societies are committed “to working together to promote public understanding and confidence in the use of vaccines to avoid another severe respiratory virus season and resurgence of vaccine-preventable illnesses and deaths.” They also called upon insurers, hospitals, and public agencies “to ensure vaccines remain available to patients without cost sharing.”1
“The health and safety of the public remains our top priority, and we will continue to support evidence-based immunizations to help prevent severe disease and protect public health,” the authors concluded.1
This article originally appeared on Pulmonology Advisor
link