Statement attributable to:
Isaac O. Opole, MBChB, PhD, MACP
President, American College of Physicians
WASHINGTON February 21, 2025—The American College of Physicians is concerned that the postponement of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meeting that had been scheduled to take place next week puts our nation’s public health at risk. Our country is currently facing the worst epidemic of influenza in several decades, a measles outbreak in Texas, and an ongoing national outbreak of pertussis. The work that ACIP does in developing evidence-based recommendations about the use of vaccines is critical to helping prevent the spread of these and other vaccine preventable illnesses. As an internal medicine physician, the ACIP recommendations provide the data-driven foundation of advice I give my patients about protecting themselves against vaccine-preventable illnesses.
Our country’s medical and scientific experts need to be able to continue their work to protect the health of the American people without political interference or delay. The CDC must promptly reschedule this critical meeting. We call on Secretary Kennedy and other officials to ensure that the advice of epidemiologists, researchers, physicians, and other experts in disease and immunizations remains primary in helping to ensure the public’s health. Let’s work together to make America healthy again.
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About the American College of Physicians
The American College of Physicians is the largest medical specialty organization in the United States with members in more than 172 countries worldwide. ACP membership includes 161,000 internal medicine physicians, related subspecialists, and medical students. Internal medicine physicians are specialists who apply scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to the diagnosis, treatment, and compassionate care of adults across the spectrum from health to complex illness. Follow ACP on X, Facebook, Instagram, Threads and LinkedIn.
Contact: Jacquelyn Blaser, (202) 261-4572, jblaser@acponline.org