WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced the revival of the Task Force on Safer Childhood Vaccines, a federal panel first created by Congress to strengthen oversight of vaccines administered to children.
The Task Force, disbanded in 1998, will now operate under the leadership of National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya, who emphasized the group’s role in ensuring “rigorous science, continuous improvement, and the trust of American families.” Senior officials from the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will also serve on the panel.
The initiative will focus on refining vaccines to reduce adverse reactions, advancing research to improve development and distribution, and strengthening adverse event reporting systems. It will also coordinate closely with the Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines to guide policy and research priorities.
HHS is required to deliver its first formal report to Congress within two years, with follow-up reports every two years thereafter. The move marks a renewed federal commitment to vaccine safety oversight at a time of heightened public attention to immunization practices.
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