The American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists has withdrawn as a liaison organization from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, citing concerns that recent actions have compromised the committee’s scientific integrity and evidence-based framework for vaccine policy.
In a statement, Steven J. Fleischman, MD, MBA, FACOG, president of the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (ACOG), said the organization has participated in the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for decades to help ensure that vaccine recommendations are grounded in rigorous scientific evidence and protect pregnant patients, pediatric patients, and families. He cited the recent reconstitution of the committee, removal of the college’s experts from workgroups, and unilateral changes to vaccine recommendations by the US Department of Health and Human Services that bypassed established scientific and clinical review processes.
Dr. Fleischman stated that these developments “represent a fundamental departure from the scientific rigor and impartiality that have been the hallmark of this committee for 60 years.” Vaccines represent a major public health advancement in modern medicine. In pregnancy and across the life span, immunization helps prevent serious and potentially life-threatening diseases that may result in lasting health effects.
The organization said it has consistently issued evidence-based clinical guidance on immunization during pregnancy, supported by decades of research demonstrating vaccine safety and effectiveness in pregnant patients and their developing pregnancies. Its representatives have served on ACIP workgroups, where members historically were vetted for conflicts of interest to ensure unbiased, pregnancy-specific clinical expertise. Until this withdrawal, ACOG endorsed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s adult and pediatric immunization schedules, which were based on committee recommendations, including those affecting pregnant patients.
According to the statement, the committee in recent months has disregarded peer-reviewed safety data, presented selected data without appropriate scientific context, and modified the childhood and adolescent immunization schedule without expert input. These actions risk reduced public trust in immunizations.
Dr. Fleischman noted, “ACOG’s withdrawal from ACIP is not a withdrawal from our commitment to advancing vaccine science or to protecting patients’ health and safety; rather, it reflects an unwavering dedication to ensuring that clinical recommendations for immunizations are based solely on the best available scientific evidence.” ACOG will continue to develop and update evidence-based vaccine guidance for obstetrician-gynecologists.
