HHS Reinstates Task Force on Safer Childhood Vaccines

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced the reinstatement of the Task Force on Safer Childhood Vaccines, a federal panel created by Congress to improve the safety, quality, and oversight of vaccines administered to American children. The Task Force will work closely with the Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines to produce regular recommendations focused on improving vaccine safety. The reinstatement of the Task Force reflects the Department's commitment to rigorous science and the trust of American families.

Key Takeaways:

• The Task Force on Safer Childhood Vaccines is a federal panel created by Congress to improve the safety, quality, and oversight of vaccines administered to American children.
• The Task Force was disbanded in 1998, but has been reinstated to reaffirm the Department's commitment to continuous improvement in childhood vaccine safety oversight.
• The Task Force will be represented by senior leadership from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• The NIH Director will serve as Chairman of the Task Force.
• The Task Force will work closely with the Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines to produce regular recommendations focused on:

- The development, promotion, and refinement of childhood vaccines that result in fewer and less serious adverse reactions than those vaccines currently on the market.

- Improvements in vaccine development, production, distribution, and adverse reaction reporting -- along with supporting research to make vaccines safer.

• HHS will transmit its first formal report to Congress within two years, with updates every two years thereafter.

Statistics:

• None provided in the original text.

Sources:

• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services