Independent Vaccine Safety Board

Background: The National Immunization Program of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is responsible for controlling infectious diseases through vaccination, but the program also plays a key role in postlicensure vaccine safety assessment. The time has come to separate postlicensure vaccine safety assessment from vaccine risk management as recommended by the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences.   The National Transportation Safety Board offers a useful model for developing an independent National Vaccine Safety Board that would have the authority to leverage resources and expertise of various government agencies, academia, and industry to oversee postlicensure vaccine safety investigations. Such a board would have been useful in recent vaccine safety concerns, and its independence from government programs would ensure optimal vaccine safety and enhance public confidence in vaccines. Salmon DA, Moulton LH, Halsey NA.  Enhancing Public Confidence in Vaccines Through Independent Oversight of Postlicensure Vaccine Safety. American Journal of Public Health 2004;94(6):947-50.  AJPH abstract Additional information is available: Questions and Answers about Enhancing Public Confidence in Vaccines through Independent Oversight of Post-licensure Vaccine Safety.  April 2004. [pdf - 111KB]   Public Comment Sought on CDC's Vaccine Safety: In consultation with outside stakeholders, the CDC has undertaken a review of vaccine safety activities at CDC. As part of this effort, the CDC is seeking public comments regarding the current state of the agency's vaccine safety program and to identify ways in which excellence in vaccine safety monitoring, research and communication can be maximized and sustained in the future. MMWR 2004:53(31);720. Links: National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) National Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB)

This page was last updated on January 23, 2008 © Institute for Vaccine Safety