Statement on the Changes to CDC ACIP

The American College Health Association (ACHA) is deeply troubled by the recent removal of all 17 sitting members on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s vaccine advisory panel, Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).

With the removal of these advisors and appointment of just eight new members, we are also concerned that ACIP will no longer have at its disposal the extensive public health and vaccine expertise on which it has relied for many years. This may compromise ACIP’s capacity to provide credible, science- and data-driven vaccination guidance and risks undermining public trust, with serious implications for all communities, including college communities.

Since its inception 61 years ago, ACIP has been comprised of trusted experts who base their advice on sound science and data. ACHA urges ACIP to uphold its commitment to protecting public health, maintaining public trust, and providing vaccination recommendations that are evidence-based.

Why Vaccinations Matter

Health and well-being are foundational to student success. Vaccines keep students healthy and thus engaged and on track in their academic studies—whether that’s at a university, a community college, or a trade school.

College campuses are dynamic, intergenerational communities that include students, faculty, staff, and non-traditional students such as veterans, older learners, pregnant individuals, and students with underlying health conditions. These populations rely on robust public health measures to ensure their safety and continued access to education.

The overwhelming evidence in favor of immunization remains consistent, as approved vaccines are proven to be safe and efficacious for preventing disease. Outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, such as influenza, measles, mumps, meningitis, pertussis, polio, varicella, HPV, and COVID-19, have been mitigated for years—and decades in many cases—by strategies based primarily on the proactive deployment and administration of vaccines.

Following science-based vaccination recommendations is essential not only for protecting individual health but also for preserving the collective safety, stability, and accessibility of our nation’s higher education institutions and the communities they serve.

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