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A review of policy, practices, and players governing and involved in the United States vaccine and immunization enterprise

Angela K. Shen (National Vaccine Program Office, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, US Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, District of Columbia, USA)
Alice Y. Tsai (National Vaccine Program Office, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, US Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, District of Columbia, USA)
Guthrie S. Birkhead (National Vaccine Program Office, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, US Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, District of Columbia, USA)

International Journal of Health Governance

ISSN: 2059-4631

Article publication date: 4 September 2017

288

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to outline the organization and governance of the US vaccine and immunization enterprise. It describes the major components of the US system including the various relationships between major federal government entities, stakeholders, and advisory committees that inform government policymaking at various points in the system.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors describe the complex interdependent network of partners that engage in a wide range of activities such as disease surveillance, research, vaccine development, regulatory licensure, practice recommendations, financing, service delivery, communications, and post-licensure monitoring.

Findings

The US system of governance is highly participatory and focuses on a transparent and open engagement, with input from a wide range of partners to inform decision-making. This collaborative framework allows many inputs to be heard and helps support the US vaccine and immunization system as it evolves to meet the continued public health needs in the USA through the optimal use of safe and effective vaccines.

Originality/value

This is an invited article on the US vaccine and immunization enterprise. The development and availability of vaccines in the USA has had profound impact on mortality and morbidity and public health (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011). The success of this enterprise is a result of a blended public and private sector system with partnerships at the federal, state, and local levels of government to optimize the use of safe and effective vaccines. Governance structures have been established to support the interaction and decision-making among the federal and non-federal actors toward the common goal of controlling and preventing infectious diseases.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Conflict of interest: the authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

The authors wish to thank Jordan Broderick for her thorough review and helpful comments.

Citation

Shen, A.K., Tsai, A.Y. and Birkhead, G.S. (2017), "A review of policy, practices, and players governing and involved in the United States vaccine and immunization enterprise", International Journal of Health Governance, Vol. 22 No. 3, pp. 138-151. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJHG-05-2017-0023

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited

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