National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
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| National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases | |
|---|---|
| Name | National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases |
| Formed | 1994 |
| Jurisdiction | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
| Headquarters | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Parent agency | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases The National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases is a component of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, responsible for preventing respiratory and vaccine-preventable diseases through public health interventions, immunization policy, and outbreak response. It interacts with federal entities such as the Department of Health and Human Services, collaborates with state health departments like the New York State Department of Health, and coordinates with international partners including the World Health Organization, Pan American Health Organization, and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. The center's activities intersect with stakeholders such as the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, vaccine manufacturers like Pfizer, and research institutions including the National Institutes of Health and Emory University.
History
The center originated from consolidation efforts within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during the 1990s, aligning programs from predecessors such as the National Immunization Program and units that had worked on influenza and tuberculosis control, and evolved through responses to events like the 2009 flu pandemic and the COVID-19 pandemic. Over time it has incorporated policy guidance influenced by bodies such as the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and legal frameworks like the Public Health Service Act, while coordinating with agencies including the Food and Drug Administration and the National Vaccine Program Office. Major programmatic shifts followed public health incidents involving measles outbreaks linked to international travel, seasonal influenza epidemics, and emergent pathogens documented during collaborations with World Health Organization missions in West Africa during the Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa.
Mission and Responsibilities
The center's mission emphasizes prevention, detection, and control of immunization-preventable and respiratory diseases, working with partners such as the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, American Academy of Pediatrics, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and UNICEF to expand vaccine access and coverage. It provides guidance on immunization schedules referenced by institutions like Johns Hopkins University and Mayo Clinic, advises agencies including the Department of Defense on vaccination of service members, and supports global health initiatives in collaboration with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Global) programs and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization.
Organizational Structure
The center is organized into divisions that manage surveillance, immunization services, influenza, respiratory pathogens, and policy, interacting with CDC directorates such as the Office of Infectious Diseases and collaborating with research partners like Harvard University, Yale School of Public Health, and Imperial College London. Leadership liaisons engage with regulatory bodies including the Food and Drug Administration and advisory entities such as the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, while program offices coordinate with state and local agencies like the California Department of Public Health and the Atlanta-Fulton County Health Department.
Programs and Initiatives
Programs include immunization delivery and vaccine confidence initiatives that work alongside Vaccines for Children Program, emergency vaccination campaigns with partners such as Médecins Sans Frontières, and seasonal influenza programs linked to laboratory networks including the Influenza Division (CDC) and collaborations with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention influenza labs in the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System. Initiatives address measles elimination efforts coordinated with the Pan American Health Organization, pertussis prevention aligned with recommendations from the American Academy of Family Physicians, and adult immunization strategies promoted through partnerships with organizations like the American Medical Association.
Surveillance and Research
Surveillance systems operated or supported by the center interface with networks such as the Emerging Infections Program, the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, and laboratory collaborations with the Public Health Agency of Canada and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, while research partnerships include National Institutes of Health grants, cooperative agreements with Emory University and University of Washington, and modeling collaborations with groups at Imperial College London and University of Cambridge. The center publishes guidance informed by studies from institutions like Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and responds to data from platforms such as the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System and Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System analyses in coordination with the Food and Drug Administration.
Emergency Response and Preparedness
The center plays a central role in outbreak response, coordinating with federal emergency structures such as the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, state-level emergency operations centers like those in New York City, and international incident management teams from the World Health Organization. It activates mechanisms during events like the 2009 flu pandemic and the COVID-19 pandemic, deploying field teams that work with partners including Médecins Sans Frontières and national ministries of health, and leverages logistics partners such as Federal Emergency Management Agency for mass vaccination and distribution campaigns.
Public Communication and Education
Public communication efforts involve guidance issuance with input from advisory bodies like the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and collaborations with medical societies such as the Infectious Diseases Society of America and patient advocacy groups like the American Lung Association, while educational outreach is conducted through partnerships with universities including Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and media engagement coordinated with outlets in Atlanta, Georgia and national press. The center supports materials for clinicians endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, public messaging during influenza seasons and pandemics informed by World Health Organization recommendations, and vaccine confidence campaigns often coordinated with UNICEF and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.