NVIC Vaccine News

NVIC Public Engagement Alert

By NVIC Staff
Published May 27, 2010 in Government


NVIC is alerting its Vaccine E-news subscribers and organizations of an important meeting of the National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC) on June 2-3, 2010 and the need for public comment. The NVAC's Vaccine Safety Working Group (VSWG) is currently charged with reviewing the current federal vaccine safety system and developing a White Paper describing different options for what can be done to improve the system.

The White Paper will describe criteria for an ideal system, such as characterization of the safety profile of vaccines in a timely manner, reducing adverse events whenever possible, and maintaining and improving public confidence in vaccine safety. Different options for improving effectiveness, accountability and transparency will be discussed, including whether changes in the infrastructure and governance are needed.

The White Paper will be sent to the Secretary for the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) for action.

NVIC is on record supporting an independent vaccine safety oversight agency housed within the federal government that reports directly to the President with responsibility for vaccine safety research, vaccine risk evaluation and vaccine safety monitoring systems, such as VAERS. The independent agency should be free from conflicts of interest, including responsibility for making recommendations for or promoting vaccine use or evaluating legal claims related to vaccine-associated injuries. The new agency would value science-based policymaking, personalized medicine, informed consent, transparency in government and responsive public engagement.

Two members of NVIC's team serve on the VSWG. Tawny Buck, NVIC's Director of Government Relations, is a voting member of NVAC and co-chair of the VSWG. Dr. Vicky Debold, NVIC's Director of Research & Patient Safety, is a VSWG member. Ms. Buck is the only consumer representative on the NVAC.  Though written comment deadlines specific to this meeting passed yesterday, this work continues beyond the June meeting and the National Vaccine Program Office (NVPO) has advised NVIC that public comments submitted after the deadline will be forwarded to the committee. 

Public comment is urgently needed to reinforce the consumer voices on the Committee. It is important that NVAC receive many public comments during this critical June 2-3 to evaluate whether or not there should be independent oversight of vaccine safety activities. 

The June 2-3 meeting will be held in Washington, DC. at the Hubert H. Humphrey Building - Room 800, 200 Independence Ave S.W. from 9-5 PM EST and 9-3 PM EST. Meetings of the NVAC are open to the public and pre-registration is required to physically attend and/or comment and the agenda has been posted. 

If you want to provide written comments, please send them to [email protected]. The meeting will also be broadcast via webinar if you cannot attend the meeting in DC. You must register for each day's webinar separately. Click on each day to register for the webinar - Register for June 2 Webinar, Register for June 3 Webinar. The NVPO has also notified NVIC that teleconference lines provided for this meeting will be opened for public comment during public comment sessions identified in the agenda.  No prior written comment need be submitted for oral comments made by teleconference.

NVIC has been representing consumers on vaccine advisory committees since 1988 and in public engagement initiatives since 2002. It is vitally important that government hear from the public on important issues like improving the vaccine safety infrastructure. We encourage you to participate by making your voice heard and will update our readers on other public engagement opportunities regarding this process as more information becomes available from NVPO.  

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5 Responses to "NVIC Public Engagement Alert"
Commenter Name
Kimberly
Posted: 5/27/2010 1:54:41 PM
I don't want my children nor I to ever be forced into taking some (experientmental) vaccine, because they told us we have to, or jail time and be forced to anyway. God help those who want to be helped and help those can't advocate for themselves.
Commenter Name
Judy
Posted: 5/29/2010 2:55:13 PM
From past experiences, I now believe that NO vaccine may be the safest way to go; if you people can't clean up the vaccines and STOP trying to kill off the population with tainted vaccines, we'll just stop using any of them. We used to trust you, but you have proven untrustworthy. If there is a problem, it's with your greed and putting money ahead of the safety of the public. We really don't need you; you need us, so clean up your act and your vaccines!!!
Commenter Name
deborah
Posted: 6/1/2010 7:21:50 AM
I have been keeping my children and myself clear of vaccines; and now my daughter is entering the Air Force and is facing the "mandatory" vaccination upon entry; all I can do is pray she will have the guts to stand up for herself, educate herself, and stay far from the vaccines they want to poison with her with.
Commenter Name
Tam
Posted: 6/11/2010 12:37:55 PM
I am so happy to see that you are getting involved to this degree and can't wait to watch your progress. I find it hard to believe that any vaccine is safe after all the reading I have done. Primarily how the drug safety studies are actually done. The Drug Inserts! That is what parents need to be handed. We get it with pain pills and antibiotics but not stuff we inject into our babies?
Commenter Name
Jenny
Posted: 6/12/2010 1:58:03 PM
The polio vaccine failed, the rabies vaccine failed, the HPV vaccine is failing...when will these people learn?!
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