Goodman urges five reforms to restore trust in CDC vaccine advisory committee

Jesse Goodman, a former director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research and former chief scientist, wrote an opinion piece calling for major changes to the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). He notes that recent actions by the Health and Human Services secretary have disrupted the committee's membership and limited the participation of CDC scientists and FDA experts.

Goodman describes how ACIP meetings have become chaotic, with unchallenged claims about vaccine safety and efficacy being aired. He says recommendations have sometimes run counter to the advice of federal scientists and the broader medical community, and that the secretary has removed several vaccines from routine recommendation without ACIP review.

To rebuild credibility, Goodman proposes five specific steps: restore scientific expertise to the committee, reinstate the FDA liaison role with a senior vaccine expert, ensure transparent decision‑making processes, protect the committee from political interference, and re‑establish rigorous review of vaccine recommendations before any changes are implemented.