NYS ACADEMY OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS CHALLENGES FEDERAL REMOVAL OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON IMMUNIZATION PRACTICES MEMBERS
“The New York Academy of Family Physicians (NYSAFP), which represents nearly 6,000 physicians, residents and students in family medicine, is deeply concerned by the recent actions taken by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary to remove all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)” said NYSAFP president Dr. Christine Doucet.
“ACIP has been in place since 1964 as a committee of objective, non-government experts who provide recommendations to HHS and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention on the safety and use of vaccines based on established processes and the expertise of the medical and scientific community. ACIP plays a critical role in informing clinical and public health practices related to vaccines including the recommended immunization schedules for children and adults. ACIP has been and must remain objective and apolitical in order to guide national policy related to disease prevention through vaccination. We are very disturbed by this recent action and its potential consequences for ensuring that ACIP remains a science-driven, objective authority for lifesaving vaccine care for our patients” added Doucet.
“At a time when the federal administration seems focused on dismantling our longstanding vaccine policies and infrastructure, NYSAFP calls on our New York State lawmakers to take swift action to shore up the system we have in place here including passage this week of S453a, Hoylman-Sigal/A765, McDonald before the 2025 session adjourns, to strengthen adult vaccine reporting to the State/ New York City vaccine registries (NYSIIS/CIR). This bill ensures that all providers who administer a vaccine to adults report to the registry, similar to the pediatric population, unless an adult patient opts out. This is important for individual health to ensure patients get only the vaccines they need and for population health to be able to identify areas where there are vaccine disparities due to limited access or the need for more education,” urged Doucet.
NYSAFP represents nearly 6,000 family physicians, residents and students across the State. NYSAFP Family Physicians are board-certified and specialize in family medicine. Family physicians focus on the whole patient providing care throughout their lifetime. They provide comprehensive healthcare services to treat diseases and injuries in all age groups from newborns to the geriatric population and across all medical fields. Family Physicians focus on prevention, wellness and overall care coordination for patients and family medicine is the only specialty to focus on the care of the entire family unit. Family Physicians are also a main source of primary health care in New York and across the country.
