Governors Public Health Alliance urges ACIP to maintain science-based vaccine guidance for children

WASHINGTON,D.C. — The Governors Public Health Alliance, a nonpartisan coalition of 15 governors — including New Jersey — focused on strengthening public health, submitted formal public comment Tuesday urging the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to preserve science-based childhood vaccine recommendations ahead of ACIP’s December 2025 meeting.

The Alliance warned that potential changes under consideration — including modifications to the Hepatitis B schedule — could have wide-ranging consequences for state immunization programs, insurance structures, and children’s access to routine vaccinations.

“Across the country, governors are working to preserve trust in public health and protect children’s health with strong, evidence-based vaccination programs,” said Angela Botticella, managing director of the Governors Public Health Alliance. “ACIP’s recommendations carry tremendous weight. Any changes must be grounded in rigorous science and accompanied with an understanding of how those recommendations will impact families, providers, insurers, state immunization systems, and overall public health.”

In its submission, the Alliance outlined several principles it urged ACIP to prioritize:

• Maintaining access to and public confidence in safe and effective vaccines that protect children’s health and wellbeing.
• Grounding all recommendations in high-quality scientific evidence and established review frameworks.
• Accounting for the operational implications for governors, state agencies, and the families they serve, noting that changes could reduce immunization rates and increase financial burdens on states.
• Ensuring transparency, clarity, and predictability to maintain public trust in vaccination programs.

The Alliance said that longstanding schedules — particularly those affecting infants and toddlers — require careful consideration of how changes would affect implementation, coverage rates, insurance systems, and continuity of care.

The full written comment from the Governors Public Health Alliance is available to the public.

ACIP will meet Dec. 4–5, 2025, to consider vaccine recommendations in an open, public session.