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Argentina Rewrites Vaccine and Bioethics Advisory Boards, Putting Health Ministry in Charge

The move concentrates decisions in the ministry, narrowing independent expert roles across vaccine policy as well as bioethics.

Overview

  • Health officials published Resolution No. 3344/2025 to overhaul the National Immunization Commission, defining it as strictly consultative with final decisions reserved to the Ministry of Health.
  • The presidency of CoNaIn now sits with the head of the Directorate for Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (DiCEI), currently Gabriel Capitelli, with DiCEI setting the agenda.
  • The resolution creates a Central Scientific Core reduced from eight to four titular members, all ad honorem with two‑year terms and confidentiality agreements, selected from medical school nominees.
  • CoNaIn members issued a statement criticizing the redesign for weakening independence and representation, warning of risks to technical quality and public confidence in vaccination; reports also note Ángela Gentile is no longer president.
  • Through Decree No. 893, the government replaced the long‑standing biomedical ethics body with a National Bioethics Commission of six titular and three alternate members for four‑year terms under minister Mario Lugones, citing the need to end fragmentation and clarify roles.