Today we are confronted with many public health issues that are too important for politics. This article will focus on the restoration of the vaccine advisory committee.
As discussed in the last article, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is no longer a credible organization. Our current Secretary of the Health and Human Services Department abruptly got rid of all previous 17 members and replaced them with 8 individuals (one has already had to resign).
A diverse coalition of over 100 medical, scientific, and health organizations signed a letter urging the HHS Secretary to reverse his actions immediately. Numerous organizations have released their own statements. Many professionals have voiced their concerns, including the President of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, who declared: “Unilaterally removing an entire panel of experts is reckless, shortsighted, and severely harmful.”
These are not just a bunch of liberals with an agenda. These are not just organizations who are doing the work of the pharmaceutical companies.
The HHS Secretary has taken no actions to correct his dangerous decisions. Now several major medical groups have resorted to filing a lawsuit against the HHS Secretary.
In my previous posts, I expressed my reluctance to engage in politics. When I launched Health Matters, I had no intention of entering into the political arena. However, the actions of one individual in a position of power have compelled me and many others to actively participate in political processes to address these actions.
We currently have a Secretary of the US Health and Human Services Department making decisions that could have devastating long-term effects on our nation’s health. I emphasize the word “could” because, at this moment, we still can undo some of the harm he has caused.
Today I am going to ask you to do something political. I want to believe that you share my deep concern for our country’s health. I am asking you to act.
Here is one way you can act. Congress has a constitutional duty to provide checks and balances to the administrative branch. We have an obligation to let our voices be known to our congressional representatives.
You can reach out to your elected representative via phone, email, or letter. To find contact information for your representative, visit congress.gov and enter your zip code in the “Contact Your Member” section on the right side of the page.
Below is a copy of the text I used in the emails sent to my elected congressional representatives.
Email subject: Restoring the ACIP
I am a PA who is employed by a private family practice clinic attached to a rural Critical Access Hospital in Geneva, Nebraska. I am joining the sea of medical professionals who are overwhelmingly clear in our opposition to what the HHS Secretary has done in the dismissal of all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
The destruction of the ACIP will harm my patients. The actions of our HHS Secretary are not good for our country.
On June 18th a letter was sent to the HHS Secretary expressing concerns about his actions in dismissing all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. The letter signed by over 100 medical organizations urged the secretary to reverse his actions and reinstate all previous ACIP members.
The Nebraska Medical Association and the majority of other state medical organizations have signed this letter.
The HHS Secretary has made no indications that he will comply with the request. We have now witnessed an ACIP meeting with over 50 falsehoods being uttered.
I join the loud chorus of voices calling on you as a member of the legislative branch to fulfill your obligation. Congress has an oversight responsibility to the people.
Many of us in the medical profession are reluctant to get involved in politics but the solution to our crisis right now is political action. We are relying on you to continue that political action. Since the HHS Secretary appears to have no intention of restoring the ACIP, the person in that position should be removed. Perhaps the most expedient way for this to occur would be for the President to replace him – you should urge the President to take this action. Concurrently you should initiate a movement in congress to remove this US government official.
Organizations representing a tremendously diverse group of scientists, public health and medical professionals have made public statements on this matter. Just to list a few examples: The Infectious Diseases Society of America, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Physicians, the American Medical Association, the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, the American Academy of Physician Associates, the American Pharmacists Association, the American Public Health Association, the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, the National Medical Association … the list goes on.
The ACIP is no longer a credible organization. The recommendations of the current committee will be meaningless – a waste of time, money, energies and focus. The actions of the HHS Secretary must be reversed as soon as possible. The health of our country for years to come is in the hands of you and your colleagues.
Thank you for listening. Please act now.
I sent the above email to both Nebraska Senators and my Representative. I also called their offices, using the text of the email as a script during my calls. When I reached Senator Deb Fischer’s office, I was given the option to leave voicemail. I had to shorten my message due to time constraints and ended up re-recording it several times before I captured the key points. I then called Senator Pete Ricketts’ office and was pleasantly surprised when a live person answered. I used the email as a guide for conveying my concerns, adjusting my language slightly for the conversation. The staff member thank me for my call and assured me he would relay my concerns. Representative Adrian Smith’s office also answered directly, and the staff member listened patiently to my concerns.
Do I believe my calls and emails will make a difference? I hope so, but I am more confident that our collective actions will affect change. Please take a few moments to reach out to your elected representatives.
Please share this post, make a few phone calls and send some emails.
Thank you for caring.
Russ
All statements on the website, newsletter or social media should be attributed to solely myself and do not necessarily reflect those of any organization I am a member of or of my employer. Please click here for my full page of Disclosures, Disclaimers, Biases, and Context.