Nominate Qualified, Independent Experts To The CDC's Vaccine Advisory Committee!

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is accepting nominations for membership on the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the influential federal committee responsible for making recommendations about vaccines administered to children and adults.

ACIP’s recommendations help shape the nation’s vaccination schedule and influence medical practices, school requirements and public health policies affecting millions of Americans.

It is critically important that ACIP members be highly qualified, independent thinkers who are free from conflicts of interest and willing to critically examine vaccine safety, effectiveness and the need for additional research.

The committee needs experts who will demand rigorous scientific evidence, investigate potential vaccine injuries and consider the cumulative effects of the expanding vaccination schedule—not simply accept longstanding assumptions.

Nominations are being accepted through December 31, 2026. This is an important opportunity to help ensure that the nation’s vaccine policies receive independent scientific scrutiny!

TAKE ACTION

Nominate qualified individuals to serve on ACIP!

The CDC is seeking individuals with expertise in science, clinical medicine, public health and related fields, including those knowledgeable about consumer perspectives.

Candidates may nominate themselves or be nominated by another individual or organization.

Deadline: December 31, 2026

Submit nominations to: ACIP@cdc.gov

Required email subject line: ACIP Nomination Application

Nominations must include:

A completed ACIP nomination form.

A current curriculum vitae (CV) outlining the nominee’s education, professional experience and qualifications.

At least one recommendation letter from an individual who is not employed by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Nomination form and instructions:

https://www.cdc.gov/acip/apply-for-membership/index.html

Official Federal Register announcement:

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/10/30/2026-22185/solicitation-of-nominations-for-appointment-to-the-advisory-committee-on-immunization-practices

Please share this opportunity with qualified physicians, scientists, researchers, and other professionals who may be interested in serving.

SAMPLE SCRIPT

The following language can be adapted for a nomination letter. The official nomination form and supporting documents must also be submitted.

“Dear ACIP Selection Committee,

I am writing to nominate ______ for membership on the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

I believe it is essential that ACIP include highly qualified professionals who are committed to independent scientific inquiry, transparency and rigorous evaluation of vaccine safety.

As vaccine recommendations continue to influence the medical decisions of millions of American families, committee members must be willing to examine the quality of existing research, investigate potential adverse reactions and identify gaps in our understanding of long-term and cumulative vaccine exposure.

I believe ______ would bring valuable expertise and an independent perspective to the committee.

Thank you for considering this nomination.”

TALKING POINTS

The following points explain why independent, scientifically qualified ACIP members are essential. Choose those most relevant to the qualifications and expertise of the individual you wish to nominate.

Vaccine recommendations must be based on rigorous, independent scientific research. ACIP needs members who will critically evaluate clinical trials, question inadequate study designs and insist on reliable evidence before recommending vaccines for millions of children and adults.
Conflicts of interest must be taken seriously. Individuals responsible for national vaccine recommendations should be free from financial relationships that could compromise their independence. Financial ties to vaccine manufacturers, research funding, consulting arrangements and other potential conflicts must be fully disclosed and carefully evaluated.
The cumulative effects of the childhood vaccination schedule deserve greater scientific scrutiny. The number of recommended vaccine doses has expanded dramatically over the past several decades. ACIP should examine the safety of administering multiple vaccines together and the potential consequences of repeated exposures throughout childhood.
Vaccine ingredients deserve careful examination. Vaccines may contain aluminum adjuvants, preservatives, stabilizers, residual manufacturing substances and other components. ACIP needs experts capable of independently evaluating ingredient-specific toxicology, exposure levels, and possible cumulative effects, particularly in infants and young children.
Serious vaccine injuries must be thoroughly investigated. The federal Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) has received millions of reports following vaccination, including reports of serious illness, disability and death. Although a VAERS report does not establish causation, these reports are important safety signals that warrant appropriate investigation rather than dismissal.
The federal government recognizes that vaccines can cause serious injuries. The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program has awarded billions of dollars to individuals and families for vaccine-related injuries and deaths. ACIP members should understand the limitations of vaccine safety surveillance and support efforts to identify, investigate and prevent adverse reactions.
Long-term health outcomes deserve greater attention. Research should examine whether repeated vaccination or particular vaccine exposures are associated with chronic illnesses, autoimmune conditions, neurological disorders or other long-term health problems. Such questions require carefully designed studies capable of distinguishing correlation from causation.
The entire vaccination schedule should be evaluated, not simply individual products. Studying vaccines separately does not necessarily answer every question about their combined administration. ACIP should identify gaps in research on simultaneous vaccination, cumulative exposures and long-term health outcomes.
Scientific disagreement should be welcomed, not suppressed. A committee charged with evaluating vaccine policy should include qualified experts who bring different perspectives, challenge assumptions and carefully examine evidence that may contradict established recommendations. Scientific progress depends on open inquiry and rigorous debate.
Families deserve transparency and informed consent. ACIP’s recommendations influence vaccination policies nationwide. Committee members should support full disclosure of known risks, scientific uncertainties, contraindications and limitations in available safety data so families can make informed medical decisions.