These comments should guide development and implementation of the Plan and make a record for Congressional and media oversight
of what the public wants and expects for future immunization activities.

The Plan sets forth five general goals and each goal has a series of objectives underpinning them:

Goal 1: Develop new and improved vaccines.

Goal 2: Enhance the safety of vaccines and vaccination practices.

Goal 3: Support informed vaccine decision-making by the public, providers, and policy-makers.

Goal 4: Ensure a stable supply of recommended vaccines, and achieve better use of existing vaccines to prevent disease, disability, and death in the United States.

Goal 5: Increase global prevention of death and disease through safe and effective vaccination.

Public input is specifically sought in response to the following questions, set forth in the introduction:
First, are the goals and indicators appropriate? Should the plan be fully achievable, aspirational, or a combination of the two?
In particular, we would appreciate some recommendations for the numeric targets for the indicators – in particular suggestions on how we ultimately set the targets.
We would also appreciate comments on the overall vaccine and immunization enterprise described in the draft strategic Plan, recognizing that the implementation plan will follow shortly.
Finally, we would appreciate guidance regarding how to think about the concept of ‘accountability' for non-federal stakeholders that are part of the plan, because their role is so critical.

However, I emphasize that public comments should go beyond these particular questions.
Safety must pervade all 5 goals.
Money should not be invested in vaccine development unless assurance is given that existing as well as new vaccines are truly safe,
individually and as part of the ever expanding vaccine regimen.
Honest communication requires a clear statement that the safety of the vaccine schedule has never been demonstrated;
therefore the schedule must be regarded as an unethical experiment and true informed decision-making weighing risks and benefits is not possible.
The world will increasingly reject vaccines not perceived as safe in developed countries.

In short, the Plan must propose and implement an aggressive “safety first” safety system that contains the following components:

1. Sound science.
2. Independence.
3. Meaningful oversight.
4. Transparency.
5. Accountability.
6. Honesty and integrity.
7. Adequate safety net.