The CDC’s decision to remove COVID-19 vaccines from its recommended immunization schedule for healthy children and pregnant women has sparked significant concern from healthcare industry groups.
While some groups, like the American Hospital Association, took a more neutral stance, others scrutinized the move for bypassing the CDC’s expert advisory group and potentially threatening vaccine access and public health.
How four healthcare industry groups responded to the decision, via statements:
1. Akin Demehin, vice president for quality and safety policy at the American Hospital Association, said the group is reviewing HHS’ announcement and recommends “people talk with their healthcare provider about what’s best for them.”
2. The Infectious Diseases Society of America raised concern that the change was made without a thorough scientific review or formal recommendation by the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. The group also warned that the change could prompt insurers to limit vaccine coverage for millions of Americans.
“IDSA strongly urges insurers to maintain coverage for COVID-19 vaccines so that all Americans can make the best decisions to protect themselves and their families against severe illness, hospitalization and death,” IDSA President Tina Tan, MD, said in a May 27 statement. “IDSA also urges Congress to conduct meaningful and necessary oversight to ensure appropriate decision-making processes at [HHS], which will impact people of all ages.”
3. National Nurses United President Nancy Hagans, RN, said the CDC’s decision “defies good public health practice.”
“It circumvented important processes to review data on benefits and harms, and did not consult with key experts or hear public comment,” she said in a May 27 statement to Becker’s. “Moreover, this change flies in the face of what we know about the Covid vaccines: they save lives. Nurses know that decreasing access to Covid vaccines in the face of worldwide Covid surges will only harm our patients.”
4. The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America said it supports voluntary COVID-19 vaccination for all healthcare workers, including those who are pregnant, to protect both patients and staff. A vaccinated healthcare workforce reduces the risk of virus transmission, promotes staff wellness and reinforces the public’s trust in healthcare professionals and institutions, according to SHEA.
“We believe that vaccines are [the] most effective and scientifically proven way to protect patients, staff, and visitors in the healthcare setting and promote it as an effective intervention to reduce the risk of transmission of infectious diseases in all healthcare settings,” the group said in a May 28 statement. “While isolation of symptomatic patients is also a strong infection prevention process, it is important to note that asymptomatic and presymptomatic patients may transmit SARS-CoV-2 before healthcare personnel are aware they are symptomatic. Which is why SHEA strongly recommends that [healthcare personnel] continue to be prioritized for vaccinations for these reasons.”
