he Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has cut eight prominent medical associations — including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and American Medical Association (AMA) — from its vaccine policy workgroups, citing conflicts of interest tied to pharmaceutical industry funding.
The decision affects the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the influential body that recommends which vaccines should be given, who should receive them, and how often. ACIP guidance shapes CDC’s Vaccines for Children Program, determines insurance coverage, and influences state vaccine mandates for schools and daycares.
In an email obtained by the Associated Press, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said the groups were considered “special interest” organizations with inherent bias due to the constituencies they represent.