Session (CTI)

Issue: Despite the safety and effectiveness of childhood vaccines, vaccine uptake is under threat due to hesitancy, acceptance, and politics. With the recent changes in personnel on the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and their active discussions about changing the recommended pediatric dosing schedule, along with ongoing outbreaks of pertussis and measles, the United States is at a crossroads. In fact, measles ‘elimination status’ is at risk or has been lost in all North American countries, so preparing for and managing endemic circulation of these pathogens is vital. Historically, mathematical modeling of infectious diseases has been a vital tool in predicting and controlling the spread of these pathogens. Effective communication strategies of these modeling efforts to inform policy makers and medical professionals is critical. Overview: Managing ongoing outbreaks of vaccine preventable disease (VPDs) and communicating strategies to mitigate their effects will be of utmost importance. Healthcare has changed since these pathogens last circulated endemically in North America and strategies for control and elimination have changed in the interim. Since it has been decades since these VPDs were endemic in North America, most scientists here are inexperienced with understanding and managing ongoing VPD outbreaks. To address this potential gap in guidance, scientific input from researchers who are experienced in elimination efforts in countries where these pathogens have remained endemic in tandem with disease modeling may help in informing policy decisions and communicating these results to stakeholders.