Earlier this week, the CPAC blog highlighted the upcoming meeting of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), emphasizing the critical opportunity ACIP had to shape vaccine policy in a way that both promotes public health and supports market competition. We are pleased to announce that ACIP took the recommendations from the Center for Regulatory Freedom (CRF) and other like-minded organizations, voting to lower the recommended age for routine pneumococcal vaccination from 65 to 50. More importantly, ACIP ensured competition in the vaccine marketplace by allowing both FDA-approved vaccines—PCV13 and PPSV23—to remain options, rather than favoring one over the other.
CRF's Recommendations and Policy Advocacy
CRF, a project of the CPAC Foundation, submitted comments to ACIP advocating for these critical changes. Our position was clear: expanding access by lowering the vaccination age is a positive step, but it is vital that ACIP not pick winners and losers in the vaccine market. Patients and their physicians should have the freedom to choose the best vaccine for their needs. Maintaining both options—PCV13 and PPSV23—ensures flexibility and choice, fostering a competitive environment that benefits patients and encourages ongoing innovation.
This policy outcome represents a rare moment of success in an era where government intervention and consolidation often dominate the marketplace. CRF's advocacy underscores the importance of allowing competition to thrive, proving that sound policy based on patient choice and scientific evidence can prevail.
Coalition Against Socialized Medicine: Op-Ed in Townhall
This policy victory aligns with the arguments laid out by the Coalition Against Socialized Medicine (CASM) in an op-ed published this week in Townhall. CASM emphasized the critical nature of this decision, advocating for a patient-centered approach that avoids government overreach in healthcare. The op-ed highlighted how, by not limiting vaccine options, ACIP is taking an essential step in restoring public trust in health institutions—a trust that has been challenged in recent years due to the politicization of public health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A Win for Public Health and Market Freedom
This week's ACIP decision is more than just a shift in vaccine policy; it is a reaffirmation of the principles that CPAC and CASM consistently champion. In a landscape where top-down mandates and monopolistic policies often take precedence, this victory is a reminder that patient autonomy, competition, and common sense can still shape effective and sensible public health policies.
As we continue to monitor ACIP’s actions and advocate for regulatory policies that prioritize patient choice and market freedom, we encourage our readers to stay engaged and informed. This decision is a promising step toward a more balanced and responsive healthcare system.
