Largest U.S. pharmacist association has major concerns about government labeling it a biased special interest group
![COVID-19 patients may face an increased risk of developing a significant heart rhythm condition, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTs), according to new findings published in Nature Cardiovascular Research.[1] COVID-19 vaccines are also associated with a higher POTS risk, but the risk was much greater after COVID-19 than after COVID-19 vaccination. Photo by Dave Fornell. Katherine Fornell](/sites/default/files/styles/top_stories/public/2022-06/covid_vaccine_booster_vaccination_df_june_2022_copy.jpg.webp?itok=9cMTCoQ2)
The American Pharmacists Association (APhA), the nation's largest pharmacist association with more than 62,000 members, said it has serious concerns about the it and other pharmacy organizations now being labeled as "special interest groups" and therefore, "biased" in decision-making by a new decision the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) Secretariat.
The move by the federal agency appears to come after APhA withheld its endorsement for the 2025 Adult Immunization Schedule issued May 28, because the pharmacy group said the recommendations were not based on scientific evidence.
APhA said the ACIP Secretariat, part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), made the recent decision to label liaison organizations, such as medical associations, as special interest groups. The secretariat decision said as a special interest group, recommendations in decision-making would be biased. This is seen as a move to silence the voice of the professional organizations that are among the most involved with immunizations and in offering expertise to the ACIP. APhA is the only pharmacy representative among several professional organizations that reviews and evaluates the ACIP Adult Immunization Schedule annually.
The ACIP committee provides advice and guidance to the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the CDC director on the appropriate selection of vaccines and related drugs to control vaccine-preventable diseases in the U.S. population.
"Pharmacists are frontline providers. We care for patients every day and deliver public health in our communities," said Michael D. Hogue, PharmD, FAPhA, FNAP, FFIP, executive vice president and CEO of APhA said in a statement. "Calling our profession a 'special interest' that 'biases' our participation is wrong and dismisses decades of scientific contributions that have kept Americans safe."
The decision to sideline APhA appears to be connected the APhA announcement June 9 its would not support the 2025 Adult Immunization Schedule, because several updates to the COVID-19 vaccine recommendations made by the HHS and the CDC were not based on scientific evidence. These changes include removing the recommendation for people who are pregnant to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
The pharmacy group noted studies have shown that people who are pregnant or were recently pregnant are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19 compared to those who are not. They are also more likely to need hospitalization, intensive care or the use of a ventilator to breathe if they do get sick from COVID-19. APhA added COVID-19 also increases risk of complications that can affect pregnancy and the baby, including preterm birth or stillbirth.
"COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy has been proven safe and effective. Additionally, this vaccine is not associated with any fertility issues in either women or men," APhA said it is statement. "APhA's stance is that pregnancy is a high-risk condition; therefore, people who are pregnant should be recommended to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The May 2025 updates to the COVID-19 vaccine recommendations do not appear to be based on the scientific evidence provided over the past few years."
APhA said it has served as a non-biased liaison organization with pharmacists, who are free from conflict of interest and have voluntarily serving as scientific advisors on the ACIP work groups for more than 25 years.
"To be told after this length of time and after much scientific and clinical expertise was provided to protect the public and keep patients safe that liaison organizations are considered 'special interest groups' and therefore expected to have 'bias' is disgraceful and disrespectful," the association said in its statement issued July 31.
APhA went on to say it is extremely disappointed that the ACIP Secretariat would take this position with full knowledge of ACIP's history and the critical role pharmacists have played in safeguarding public health. The group said pharmacists have helped ACIP protect the nation from serious public health threats and urge the ACIP Secretariat to reconsider what it called a "reckless" decision.
Dave Fornell has covered healthcare for more than 17 years, with a focus in cardiology and radiology. Fornell is a 5-time winner of a Jesse H. Neal Award, the most prestigious editorial honors in the field of specialized journalism. The wins included best technical content, best use of social media and best COVID-19 coverage. Fornell was also a three-time Neal finalist for best range of work by a single author. He produces more than 100 editorial videos each year, most of them interviews with key opinion leaders in medicine. He also writes technical articles, covers key trends, conducts video hospital site visits, and is very involved with social media. E-mail: [email protected]