CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — The Center for Disease Control (CDC)’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is scheduled to meet Wednesday and Thursday to discuss and vote on whether or not to recommend the COVID-19 vaccine, as well as a number of others, and whether or not it should be included in a federally-funded program that helps children of low-income parents receive recommended vaccines on schedule.

The ACIP is a committee of 15 experts that recommends vaccines, and the CDC sets the U.S. adult and childhood immunization schedules based on its recommendations, according to the CDC’s website.

The agenda for the ACIP meeting outlines that in order for applicable health plans to cover immunizations, the shot must be approved by the CDC Director and appear on CDC immunization schedules.

A Vaccines for Children (VFC) vote on the COVID–19 vaccine is also scheduled, according to that same meeting agenda.

The VFC is a federally-funded program that provides vaccines to children whose parents or guardians may not be able to afford them. Under the Affordable Care Act and the Public Health
Service Act, “immunization recommendations of the ACIP that have been approved by the CDC Director and appear on CDC immunization schedules must be covered by applicable health plans,” the document reads.

Recommendation votes on pneumococcal, adult immunization schedule, child/adolescent immunization schedule and COVID-19 vaccines are scheduled. A Vaccines for Children (VFC) vote on COVID-19 vaccine is scheduled.

FRN October 2022 ACIP Meeting

Other “matters to be considered” during the meeting include influenza vaccines, pneumococcal vaccine, meningococcal vaccines, respiratory syncytial virus vaccine, rotavirus vaccine, dengue vaccines and the Chikungunya vaccine.

The written public comment period closes on Oct. 20, 2022. Click here to submit a written comment.

The meetings are scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday and adjourn at 5 p.m., then begin again at 8:30 a.m. Thursday and adjourn at 4 p.m., according to a draft schedule from the CDC’s website. The meeting will be streamed online. Click here to watch.

Editor’s Note: This story has been partially rewritten for clarity.