Membership
Members sit on the Vaccine Advisory Committee (VAC) for a three-year term with the option to extend one more term, for a total of six years. The chair reserves the right to reappoint members for service exceeding six years if it is determined that doing so is in the best interest of the committee and is mutually agreed upon by the appointing organization and member.
Student member terms are one-year with an option to extend for a second term for a total of two years.
Whenever possible, terms will be staggered for organizations and entities that have multiple members on the VAC to avoid multiple representatives leaving their positions simultaneously.
Additionally, two other state agencies have seats: the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). The Washington State Chief Science Officer, who chairs the committee, appoints consultants representing healthcare providers in pediatrics, obstetrics, and for connecting to the Washington State Vaccine Association (WVA). Consultants do not have defined terms of membership.
Representation
The following professional organizations, government agencies, and entities provide representation to the VAC:
- American Indian Health Commission for Washington (1 representative)
- Urban Indian Health Institute (1 representative)
- Northwest Tribal Epidemiology Center (1 representative)
- Internal Medicine (1 representative)
- Managed Care Organization (1 representative)
- Naturopathy (1 representative)
- Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (1 representative)
- Perinatal Health Care Providers (1 representative)
- Public Health Seattle King County (1 representative)
- State Agency Health Care Purchaser (1 representative)
- Washington Academy of Family Physicians (2 representatives)
- Washington State Association of Local Public Health Officials (4 representatives)
- Washington State Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (2 representatives)
- Washington State Chapter of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (1 representative)
- Washington State Pharmacy Association (1 representative)
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (1 representative)
Conflict of Interest
In order for the Department of Health to pursue its mission and to maintain its reputation with the public and health care providers, it is important that the decisions and actions of the Washington State Vaccine Advisory Committee (VAC) not be unduly influenced by the special interests of individual members.
Accordingly, the VAC has adopted the following Conflict of Interest Policy:
Decisions made by committee members should always be based solely on the best interest of the department and the people of Washington State. Decisions should not be influenced by personal financial interest or by other extraneous considerations. Any affiliation with an organization having fundamental goals that conflict with the department and VAC mission should be avoided. Any current, previous (within two years), or future potential conflict of interest should be disclosed at the beginning of each VAC meeting.
A potential conflict of interest exists when a committee member has a relationship or engages in any activity or has any personal financial interest which might impair their independence or judgment or inappropriately influence their decisions or actions concerning VAC matters.
A potential conflict of interest exists and should be disclosed if the committee member:
- Has a relationship with an entity that benefits financially from the sale of vaccines, such as a consultancy, serving on a speaker's bureau, receiving honoraria, research and/or travel support.
- Owns a material financial interest in any business that provides or seeks to provide goods or services to the department.
- Serves as an officer or participates on the board or committees of other related professional societies that receive direct financial benefit from the sale of vaccines.
- Has an affiliation with an organization that has a financial interest in VAC recommendations.
- Has an affiliation with an organization that has a competing activity.
Each committee member has a high duty and obligation to disclose to the entire committee any potential conflict of interest and to abstain from any decision where a significant conflict of interest exists. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the entire committee to determine what, if any, limitations on activities with regard to the committee member's conflict are required to protect the VAC.