The Director of the District of Columbia Department of Health (DC Health) seeks to convene a Scientific Advisory Committee for the Development and Implementation of a Safe, Effective, and Equitable COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Program in the District of Columbia. The primary objective of the committee is to advise the Director of DC Health on effective strategies to communicate public health information regarding safety and effectiveness of the vaccine to promote vaccine confidence and uptake. Additional objectives include advising on messaging and outreach strategies to counter misinformation and to promote confidence among high-risk populations.
Responsibilities
The DC Health Scientific Advisory Committee for the Development and Implementation of a Safe, Effective and Equitable COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Program in DC will be responsible for:
- Reviewing and providing technical feedback on data on vaccine safety for Phase 3 clinical trials, Phase 4 clinical trials and pharmacovigilance data for all vaccine candidates in the US
- Reviewing and providing technical feedback on data on vaccine efficacy and quality for all vaccine candidates in the US
- Reviewing vaccine policy recommendations of the National Academy of Medicine and the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices related to priority groups for vaccination
Member Qualifications
As the role of the Committee is to advise DC Health, members are expected to remain proficient in the epidemiology of COVID-19 specific to the District of Columbia, including an understanding of high-risk populations and the disparities in incidence and mortality based on race/ethnicity, geography, and setting. A working knowledge of national profiles and statistics is not sufficient qualifications to serve as a member of the DC Committee.
To ensure that the primary objective of the committee is met, the committee shall be comprised of fifteen (15) members with subject matter expertise in a range of clinical, research, and community service domains and a robust understanding of the District’s culture and community assets. Committee members must demonstrate professional integrity, a strong commitment to the health and safety of the residents of the District of Columbia, as well as a commitment to the achievement of health equity.
Logistics
The committee will convene every two weeks, or as determined by the Director, in the initial phases of COVID-19 vaccine program planning. Meeting frequency is expected to change over time; however, the Committee will not sunset until vaccination of the general population concludes. Meetings will be conducted virtually.
Staff support to the committee will be provided by the COVID-19 Vaccine Group within the Health and Medical Branch of the District’s Emergency Operation Center.