The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced the reinstatement of the Task Force on Safer Childhood Vaccines, a federal panel established by Congress to strengthen the safety, quality, and oversight of vaccines administered to American children.
“By reinstating this Task Force, we are reaffirming our commitment to rigorous science, continuous improvement, and the trust of American families,” said National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya, who will serve as chairman. “NIH is proud to lead this effort to advance vaccine safety and support innovation that protects children without compromise.”
Originally disbanded in 1998, the Task Force will once again bring together senior leadership from the NIH, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its mission is to work closely with the Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines to develop and refine vaccines that cause fewer and less severe adverse reactions, improve production and distribution processes, strengthen adverse reaction reporting, and support research aimed at making vaccines safer.
The Task Force will deliver its first formal report to Congress within two years, followed by updates every two years thereafter.
