Recent changes to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) membership and guidance have led to confusion and questions about patient access to vaccines and immunizations. The ACR supports unimpeded insurance or payer-covered patient access to vaccines, as well as policies that promote population immunity and vaccination among school-aged children and opposes policies that threaten patient access to protection against vaccine preventable diseases.

People with rheumatic diseases often are more susceptible to debilitating illness or death from infections. This occurs because their underlying disease and the immunosuppressive medications used to treat many of them make infection more dangerous and vaccination potentially less effective.

Vaccines and immunizations are an essential measure to protect immunocompromised individuals with rheumatic disease. Adults and children with rheumatic disease represent a vulnerable population who receive protection against infection not only from their own response to vaccination, but from the immunity of the surrounding population.  

Congress needs to hear from the rheumatology community about the critical role vaccines play in the treatment of patients with rheumatic disease. Take a moment to send a letter to your lawmakers via the Legislative Action Center today!