The FDA committee responsible for reviewing and evaluating scientific data on the safety and effectiveness of vaccines and similar products related to preventing, treating or diagnosing disease. The committee has ad hoc meetings instead of regularly scheduled routine meetings, but upcoming meetings are published well in advance at the FDA’s Advisory Committee Calendar. The committee deliberations and conclusions are an important part of the process of approval of biological products at the FDA, so it’s valuable for journalists to look not only at the final approval application but also what VRBPAC recommended for a particular product. The 15 voting members have expertise in immunology, molecular biology, genetics, virology, bacteriology, epidemiology or biostatistics, vaccine policy, vaccine safety science, federal immunization activities, vaccine development (including translational and clinical evaluation programs), allergy, preventive medicine, infectious diseases, pediatrics, microbiology, and biochemistry.
