BIO Statement on HHS Dismissal of CDC Advisory Committee Members
June 9, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. - John F. Crowley, President and CEO of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), released the following statement regarding today’s dismissal of the voting members of the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices:
“The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is vital to ensuring scientific rigor and third-party experts inform decisions about the safe and effective use of vaccines in the US. Under the law, ACIP also plays a critical role determining how the American people access immunizations.
We are greatly concerned about the uncertainty created by the abrupt dismissal of the serving committee members and the loss of years of experience, especially less than three weeks before the next ACIP meeting, with consequential votes on recommendations that will affect Americans’ access to RSV, flu, HPV and other important vaccines.
While the advisors serve on the ACIP at the selection and appointment by the Secretary, the removal of committee members will cause significant disruption in this critical process. Immunization reviews take place through working groups over many months, culminating with discussion during a public meeting. A wholesale change of this manner will negatively affect the Committee’s ability to deliberate and make well-informed recommendations, putting American lives at risk.
We agree that transparency is key to restoring trust in immunizations; however, the actions taken today upend a time-tested system that has protected American public health.”
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