The structure, role, and procedures of the U.S. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)

The National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG) in the United States is the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). The ACIP was established in 1964 by the US Surgeon General to assist in the prevention and control of communicable diseases, and includes a chair, an executive secretary, 15 voting members, 8 ex officio members and liaison representatives from 26 health-related professional organizations. Meetings are regularly convened at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and are open to the public. Stringent measures and rigorous screening are used to avoid both real and apparent conflicts of interest, and no special interest or lobbying groups provide any material support to ACIP or its members. The committee recommends licensed new vaccines to be incorporated into the routine immunization schedule, recommends vaccine formulations, and reviews older vaccines to consider revising its recommendations.