Pharmacist Discusses Vaccine Guidance Uncertainty Following ACIP Removal

Cherokee Layson-Wolf, PharmD, BCACP, FAPhA, professor of practice, sciences, and health outcomes research at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, highlights the critical role pharmacists play in navigating vaccine recommendations and supporting patient understanding during a period of significant health care uncertainty. With recent changes to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), pharmacists are facing unprecedented challenges in providing reliable vaccine information to patients. Layson-Wolf emphasizes that pharmacists have long been trusted health care professionals who help patients understand complex medical recommendations. However, recent shifts in leadership at organizations like the CDC and Human and Health Services have created confusion about vaccine guidance. Pharmacists now must work harder to interpret scientific studies and recommendations, relying more heavily on external sources and literature to support their vaccination practices.

Transparency has been a key concern in these changes. Previously, the ACIP process was highly transparent, with public access to meeting videos, transcripts, and presentations. This openness allowed health care professionals and interested individuals to understand the scientific reasoning behind vaccine recommendations. The current changes threaten this transparency, potentially undermining public trust in vaccine guidance. Vaccine schedules have historically helped determine insurance coverage and guided pharmacists in providing timely immunizations. Changes to these recommendations could affect school vaccination requirements, local health department capabilities, and overall community health strategies.

Moving forward, Layson-Wolf advocates for proactive approaches. Pharmacists must focus on understanding patient concerns, sharing accurate information, and working collaboratively with other health care providers. Additionally, there's a critical need to advocate to legislators about maintaining sound scientific principles in healthcare recommendations. The ultimate goal remains protecting public health by ensuring patients have access to reliable, evidence-based vaccine information through trusted healthcare professionals like pharmacists.

"The pharmacists still really play an important role in helping patients navigate their vaccination needs, and we have the skills to understand those recommendations and also the science that supports those recommendations," Layson-Wolf said. "Trust from patients was established well before these changes were made to the ACIP so it's important to let those patients know where they can go to get answers, such as health care professionals like pharmacists and their providers, and the media can really be hard to navigate with conflicting information."

READ MORE: Immunization Resource Center

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