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Kennedy Dismisses Entire Federal Vaccine Advisory Committee
In an unprecedented move, US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dismissed the entire Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) on Monday. This 17-member committee advises the CDC on vaccine recommendations and required immunizations.
Kennedy, a long-standing critic of federal vaccine policy, justified the dismissals in a Wall Street Journal op-ed, citing conflicts of interest among the members, many of whom he labeled “last-minute appointees” of the Biden administration. He argued that without removing the current members, a majority of new appointments couldn’t be made until 2028. He also criticized the committee’s transparency regarding vaccine recommendations.
This action drew swift condemnation from health officials and organizations. One dismissed ACIP member, speaking anonymously to CNN, expressed shock and concern, stating, “I’ve never seen anything this damaging to public health happen in my lifetime…
This will fundamentally destabilize vaccination in America.” They also defended ACIP’s conflict of interest policy as “the most rigorous…of any organization that I know of.”
Several senators also expressed concerns. Sen.
Bill Cassidy (R-LA), who previously supported Kennedy’s confirmation, stated on social media, “Of course, now the fear is that the ACIP will be filled up with people who know nothing about vaccines except suspicion.” He confirmed speaking with Kennedy about the matter.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) called the move “excessive.”
The dismissals raise questions about the future of vaccine recommendations in the US. The ACIP is scheduled to meet in late June, leaving HHS a short timeframe to appoint new members.
Experts worry that such rapid appointments will not allow for proper vetting. Several prominent health leaders have condemned the move, expressing concerns about eroding public trust in vaccines and the potential impact on vaccination rates.
Some dismissed members are already discussing forming an independent body to evaluate vaccine safety and effectiveness.