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On Monday, February 2, 2009 the Institute of Medicine Committee will be meeting in Washington, D.C. on Review of Priorities in the National Vaccine Plan.

The National Vaccine Plan was created in 1986, updated in 1994 and has not been revised since then. Since it is now 2009, I think it's a pretty good idea that the plan be restructured, with new goals to be set.

There is an 85 page draft of new goals and priorities which is very interesting. And it seems the powers at me have heard the concerns of the public, because one of the main goals of this plan is to improve vaccine safety. This improved safety would include vaccine development and administration, which means new research and case studies.

In addition to vaccine safety there is also a call to improve the financial strain of patients who cannot afford vaccines and to improve the scope of people globally that these vaccines actually reach. Particularly in elderly patients the Institute of Medicine Committee says the reach of vaccines is only sub-optimal.

Some of the plans goals have remained the same throughout the years and to some degree have been met, but can of course be improved.

Goal 1: Develop new and improved vaccines
Goal 2: Enhance the safety of vaccines and vaccination practices
Goal 3: Support informed vaccine decision-making by the public, providers, and
policy-makers
Goal 4: Ensure a stable supply of recommended vaccines and achieve better use
of existing vaccines to prevent disease, disability and death in the United States
Goal 5: Increase global prevention of death and disease through safe and effective
vaccination

You can read the full 85-page National Vaccine Plan draft at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services website.

This IOM workshop will focus on topics related to Goal 3 of the update to the National Vaccine Plan (support informed vaccine decision-making by the public, providers, and policy-makers) developed by federal agencies with coordination by the National Vaccine Program Office (NVPO).

To Listen to Meeting via Audio Webcast: To listen to the webcast, go to http://nationalacad emies.org.
Pre-registration is not necessary for the webcast.

Comments from the public are welcome by phone, mail or e-mail.

Contact Information:

Institute of Medicine,
8th floor, Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice Committee
on Review of Priorities, National Vaccine Plan,
Keck Center of the National Academies 500 5th Street, NW Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-334-1361
Fax: 202-334-2939
Email: VaccinePlan@nas.edu

Labels: vaccines