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CHARTER
ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON IMMUNIZATION PRACTICES
Advisory Committee’s Official Designation.
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP or Committee).
Authority.
The ACIP was established under Section 222 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. §2l7a),
as amended. The Committee is governed by the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee
Act (FACA), Public Law 92-463 (5 U.S.C. § 1001 et seq.), as amended.
The ACIP has been given statutory roles under subsections 1928(c)(2)(B)(i) and 1928(e) of the
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. § 1396s(c)(2)(B)(i) and 1396s(e)) and subsection 2713(a)(2) of
the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. § 300gg-13(a)(2)).
Objective and Scope of Activities.
The Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and by delegation the
Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are authorized under Section 311
and Section 317 of the Public Health Service Act, [42 U.S.C. §243 and 42 U.S.C. §247b], as
amended, to assist states and their political subdivisions in the prevention and control of
communicable diseases; to advise the state s on matters relating to the preservation and
improvement of the public’s health; and to make gr ants to states and, in consultation with t he
state health authorities, to agencies and political subdivisions of states to assist in meeting the
costs of communicable disease control programs.
Vaccines have played an important role in public health around the globe. The Advisory
Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) prov ides recommendations to the CDC Director
on the use of vaccines and immunization program strategies to inform individuals, clinicians, and
broader public health efforts. This committee convenes scientific and medical experts to provide
recommendations based on the best available evidence of vaccine risks and benefits, and
efficacy.
ACIP shall provide advice and guidance to the CDC Director regarding use of vaccines and
related agents for effective control of vaccine-preventable diseases and/or decreased
symptomatology in the civilian population of the United States and gaps in vaccine safety
research including adverse effects following v accination. Recommendations made by ACIP are
initially reviewed by the CDC Director, and if adopted, become official CDC/HHS
recommendations, and may be published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
(MMWR) . The CDC Director informs the HHS Secretary, and Assistant Secretary for Health, of
immunization recommendations provided by the Committee. Upon the licensure or
authorization of any vaccine or any new indicat ion for a vaccine, the Committee shall, as
appropriate, consider the use of the vaccine at its next regularly scheduled meeting. If the
Committee does not make a recommendation at the Committee’s first regularly scheduled
meeting, the Committee shall provide an update on the status of such for the Committee’s
review.
Description of Duties.
The Committee shall provide advice for the control of diseases for which a vaccine is licensed or
authorized in the U.S. The guidance will address use of vaccines and may include
recommendations for administration of immune globulin preparations and/or antimicrobial
therapy shown to be effective in controlling a di sease for which a vaccine is available. Guidance
for use of unlicensed vaccines may be developed if circumstances warrant and the Committee is
directed to develop such guidance by the CD C Director. For each vaccine, the Committee
advises on population groups and/or circumstance s in which a vaccine or related agent is
recommended. The Committee shall also provi de recommendations on contraindications and
precautions for use of the vaccine and related agents and provides information on recognized
adverse events. The Committee also may provide recommendations that a ddress the general use
of vaccines and immune globulin preparations as a class of biologic agents, use of specific
antibody products for prevention of infectious diseases, and special situations or populations that
may warrant modification of the routine recommendations.
The main tasks of the Committee can be or ganized into review and recommendations,
immunization schedules, and public health strategies. ACIP shall review the latest scientific
evidence on vaccine safety, efficacy, and effect iveness to make recommendations on the routine
use of vaccines, including for specific populations such as pregnant women, elderly, and
immunocompromised individuals. Such review may include evaluation of pre- and post-
licensure data or if available, clinical tr ial data for vaccines under an Emergency Use
Authorization. ACIP shall provide recommendations regarding revisions and updates to the
CDC immunization schedules for children, adoles cents, and adults, taking into account emerging
diseases, new vaccines, cumulative exposures to vaccines and vaccine components, and changes
in disease epidemiology. Furthermore, ACIP sh all advise on vaccination strategies that promote
optimal vaccine coverage, address health di sparities, and ensure equitable access to
immunizations across communities.
Committee deliberations on use of vaccines to control disease in the U.S. shall include
consideration of disease epidemiology and burden of disease, vaccine risks and benefits, vaccine
efficacy and effectiveness, the quality of evidence reviewed, economic analyses, and
implementation issues. The Committee may revise or withdraw their recommendation(s)
regarding a particular vaccine as new information on disease epidemiology, vaccine
effectiveness or safety, economic considerat ions, or other data become available.
Key responsibilities in developing committee r ecommendations can be organized into vaccine
recommendations, vaccine safety and monito ring, emerging vaccines and technology, global
health practices, and public engagement and tran sparency as part of ACIP public meetings.
ACIP shall be responsible for formulating recommendations for routine vaccination schedules
for different age groups and high-risk populations, advising on the use of vaccines in emergency
situations (such as during disease outbreaks or public health emergencies), and reviewing
immunization practices (incl uding those related to vaccine storage, handling, and
administration). ACIP shall also be responsible for reviewing data on vaccine safety and adverse
events, providing recommendations to enhance vacc ine safety surveillance systems, and advising
CDC on gaps in vaccine safety research; evaluatin g the risk/benefit profiles of vaccines based on
ongoing surveillance and new research findings; cons idering analysis of cumulative effects of
vaccines and their constituent components; engaging in re-analysis of vaccine safety and efficacy
as gaps are identified and new information be comes available; and evaluating the risks and
benefits of tailoring immunization practices to maximize benefits and reduce risks and take into
account variability in immune response for various populations. Furthermore, ACIP shall be
responsible for considering on an ongoing basis th e safety, efficacy, and public health impact of
new vaccines, as well as novel vaccine platfo rms such as mRNA vaccines; and evaluating
vaccines for new diseases or variants of con cern, ensuring that recommendations adapt to new
scientific evidence and evolving disease landscapes. ACIP shall also be responsible for
reviewing global initiatives; and reviewing v accination schedules by other countries and
international organizations.
ACIP shall employ a transparent, evidence-driven decision-making process in developing
recommendations. The Committee shall review cl inical data, listen to expert presentations, and
consult with subject matter expert s to determine the benefits and risks of vaccines. ACIP
decisions shall be based on rigorous scientific an alysis and deliberation, with the goal of
recommending immunization practi ces that protect and improve public health in the United
States.
In accordance with Section 1928 of the Social Security Act, ACIP also shall establish and
periodically review and, as appropriate, revise the list of vaccines for administration to children
and adolescents eligible to receive vaccines through the Vaccines for Children Program, along
with schedules regarding the appropriate dose and dosing interval, and contraindications to
administration of the pediatric vaccines. The Se cretary, and as delegated by the CDC Director,
shall use the list established by ACIP for th e purpose of the purchase, delivery, and
administration of pediatric vaccines in the Vaccines for Children Program.
Further, under provisions of the Affordable Care Act (Section 2713 of the Public Health Service
Act, as amended), immunization r ecommendations of the Committee that have been adopted by
the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must be covered by applicable
health plans.
Agency or Federal Officer Receiving the Advisory Committee’s Advice/Recommendations .
The Committee reports to the CDC Director. Th e CDC Director informs the HHS Secretary and
the Assistant Secretary for Health, HHS, of immunization recommendations provided by the
Committee.
Support.
Management and support services shall be provided by the CDC’s: Office of the Chief of Staff;
National Center for Immunization and Respirator y Diseases; National Center for Emerging and
Zoonotic Infectious Diseases; and National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB
Prevention as instructed by the CDC Director, to support ACIP-related activities.
Estimated Annual Operating Costs and Staff Years.
Estimated annual costs for operating the Commit tee, including (i) Federal personnel (3) and
other Federal internal costs are $1,080,340; (ii) proposed compensation and travel expense
payments for up to 19 members is $42,750; and (iii) reimbursable costs are $83,106.
Estimated Number and Frequency of Meetings.
Meetings will be held at the discretion of the ACIP DFO in consultation with the Chair.
Meetings shall be open to the public except as determined otherwise by the CDC Director or
other official, to whom the authority has been delegated, in accordance with the Government in
the Sunshine Act (5 U.S.C. § 552b(c)) and Section 10(d) of the FACA (5 U.S.C. § 1009(d)).
Notice of all meetings shall be given to the public.
Duration.
Continuing.
Termination.
Unless renewed by appropriate action, ACIP will te rminate 2 years from the date this charter is
filed.
Membership and Designation.
The Committee consists of up to 19 voting members, who are Special Government Employees,
including the Chair and Vice Chair.
Members shall be selected from authorities who are knowledgeable in the fields of medicine,
vaccines, immunization practices, immunology, toxicology, pediatric neurodevelopment,
epidemiology, data science, statistical analysis, heal th economics, recovery from serious vaccine
injuries, or public health; have expertise in the use of vaccines or other immunobiologic agents in
clinical practice or preventive medicine, have expertise with clinical or laboratory vaccine
research, or have expertise in assessment of v accine safety and efficacy. The Committee shall
include a person(s) knowledgeable about consumer perspectives and/or social and community
aspects of immunization programs. Members sh all be deemed Special Government Employees.
The Committee also shall consist of non-voting ex-officio members from the Health Resources
and Services Administration, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services, National Institutes of He alth, Indian Health Service, and the National
Vaccine Program at HHS or their designees.
If fewer than a quorum of ACIP members are eligible to vote due to absence or a financial or
other conflict of interest, the DFO, or designee, shall have the authority to temporarily designate
the ex-officio members as voting members.
There also shall be 33 non-voting liaison repr esentatives from the American Academy of Family
Physicians; American Academy of Pediatrics; American Academy of Physician Associates;
American College Health Association; American College of Nurse Midwives; American College
of Physicians; American Geriatrics Society; America’s Health Insurance Plans; American
Immunization Registry Association; American Medical Association; American Nurses
Association; American Osteopathic Association; American Pharmacists Association; Association
of Immunization Managers; Association of Americ an Physicians and Surgeons; Association for
Prevention Teaching and Research; Association of State and Territorial Health Officials;
Biotechnology Innovation Organization; Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists;
Canadian National Advisory Committee on Immu nization; Infectious Diseases Society of
America; Independent Medical Alliance; Interna tional Society of Travel Medicine; Medical
Academy of Pediatrics and Special Needs; Nati onal Association of County and City Health
Officials; National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners; National Foundation for
Infectious Diseases; National Medical Assoc iation; Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society;
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America; Physicians for Informed Consent;
Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine; and Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of
America. Liaisons shall be deemed representatives.
Members, including the Chair and Vice Chair, sh all be selected by the HHS Secretary and shall
be invited to serve for overlapping terms of up to four years, except that any member appointed
to fill a vacancy for an unexpired term shall be appointed for the remainder of that term. A
member may serve 180 days after the expiration of that member’s term if a successor has not
taken office.
Subcommittees.
Subcommittees composed of members of the parent committee and other subject matter experts
may be established with the approval of the HH S Secretary. The subcommittees must report
back to the parent committee and do not provide advice or work products directly to the agency.
The Department Committee Management Officer will be notified upon establishment of each
subcommittee and will be provided infor mation on its name, membership, function, and
estimated frequency of meetings.
Filing Date.
April 1, 2026
APPROVED:
_________________________ __________________________________
Date Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
March 31, 2026