An Ounce (or so) of Vaccine Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure

As we have gone through the COVID pandemic I think we’ve all learned a lot more about the workings of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). We found out about accelerated approvals and the FDA advisory committee meetings, especially when they dealt with the controversy involved with the Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm. The FDA uses advisory committees to give them scientific and third-party input on drug approvals. They also give stake holders the opportunity to participate in public written, and in person, testimony. I have testified multiple times at these advisory committee meetings as I advocated for older Americans.

The CDC also has an advisory committee for immunization decisions. The CDC describes this group as follows:

“The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) comprises medical and public health experts who develop recommendations on the use of vaccines in the civilian population of the United States. The recommendations stand as public health guidance for safe use of vaccines and related biological products”.

As you know I have often written about the importance of keeping up to date on our vaccinations . . . more and more of our preventative medication and treatments for illnesses come to us through immunizations. I’ve written often about the impact that the pandemic had on causing some of us to postpone these important preventative measures. I continue to stay involved in the CDC’s recommendations for immunizations and was selected recently to give a three-minute public testimony at the ACIP meeting held on June 23rd. While the subject of the meeting dealt with what guidance the CDC should recommend for COVID boosters, my comments were tailored to urge the CDC to expand their focus to include renewed recommendations on other preventative vaccinations. Below is my testimony.

Thank you for having me, I’m Thair Phillips of Seniors Speak Out.

I want to start by thanking this committee for your continued diligence toward ensuring vaccines are available for Americans throughout our lifespan. As many of us are parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, we were particularly grateful for the recent approval of the COVID vaccines for the youngest children.

As you know, older Americans can benefit greatly from vaccines as we are more likely to be managing chronic conditions and a weakening immune system. As we learned early on in the pandemic, COVID-19 posed a greater threat to older Americans than any other age group. In fact, grim statistics recently released by the Associated Press showed that 3 out of 4 COVID deaths were older Americans which further illustrated this very real threat.

Despite entering into year three of this pandemic, our generation has not lost our resolve in fighting back against this virus and has embraced the vaccine more than any other age group with 95 percent of Americans over 65 having received at least one dose.

With that in mind, it is particularly important to those of us who serve older Americans to continue our work to keep their vaccination rates high, and for the COVID vaccine—added booster doses if necessary.

Now that we as a country are able to vaccinate to prevent or mitigate COVID from the very young to the very old, we should remain steadfast in our efforts to keep COVID boosters at the front of older Americans’ minds.

To that end, the work of ACIP will be critically important in the months to come, so that groups like ours can help encourage our fellow Americans to remain up to date on boosters, as well as being vaccinated for other respiratory illnesses like the flu and pneumonia.

As you know, vaccination rates pre-pandemic were not ideal. The pandemic squashed those routine vaccination numbers even further. COVID vaccinations were somewhat of a bright spot, with older Americans lining up. Let’s build on that. Let’s continue to work together to benefit this important community and ensure that they are informed and most importantly protected against COVID-19 and other preventable diseases.

Thank you.

I am encouraged by the movement to include our yearly flu shot with the next COVID booster if that becomes available. Anything that reduces the number of trips we make to the pharmacy, doctor or other healthcare provider will increase the number of people who take advantage of the vaccines that are available to us.

There has been a silver lining to the pandemic that we need to build on. The scientific push that produced our COVID vaccine in record time was based on a new form of cell level signaling that could be the pathway to breakthroughs in other disease areas. We could find vaccines that help prevent, treat and even cure diseases based on this new science. We need to encourage and embrace this expansion in the use of vaccines.

I’ve found it interesting that we are quick to accept a new pill, ointment or liquid that is discovered but some of us have been hesitant about a new vaccine. Older Americans need to continue to lead on being vaccinated, not only against COVID but for the other preventative vaccines that are now or will come available. As we get older our bodies may become a little less able to fight off illnesses, but we can continue to be resolute in our march toward doing everything we can to keep ourselves healthy.

I hope the CDC recognizes the importance of building on our willingness to take preventative measures by expanding and clarifying their immunization recommendations.

Best, Thair