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Kennedy Reshapes CDC Vaccine Panel, Prioritizing “Gold-Standard Science”
Washington D.C. – Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has made significant changes to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) influential vaccine panel, appointing two obstetrician-gynecologists (OB-GYNs) as part of a broader effort to re-evaluate the nation’s immunization policy. This move aligns with the “Make America Healthy Again” agenda championed by Kennedy, a known vaccine skeptic.
Dr. Adam Urato, an OB-GYN specializing in maternal-fetal medicine, and Dr.
Kimberly Biss, a St. Petersburg, Florida-based OB-GYN, are the newest additions to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).
This panel plays a crucial role in formulating federal vaccine recommendations.
Jim O’Neill, Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services and acting director of the CDC, stated that these appointments are part of a larger initiative to ensure vaccine policies are grounded in scientific data. “President Trump asked us to bring the childhood immunization schedule in line with gold-standard science,” O’Neill explained.
“ACIP is doing just that. Our new ACIP members have the clinical expertise to make decisions driven by evidence, not dogma.”
The ACIP advises the CDC director and the HHS secretary on vaccine usage and the national immunization schedule. Last June, Kennedy dismissed all existing members of the vaccine panel, citing the need to rebuild public trust and address potential conflicts of interest. The committee was subsequently re-established with new appointees who share Kennedy’s perspective on vaccine safety, transparency, and scientific rigor.
Dr. Urato, one of the new appointees, has previously voiced concerns regarding the CDC’s COVID-19 vaccine guidance for pregnant women, arguing that safety assurances were made without sufficient data. While supporters believe his appointment will bring much-needed scrutiny to federal health guidelines, critics worry it could erode public confidence in vaccines.
The reconstituted panel has since re-examined several long-standing recommendations, culminating in a significant revision of the CDC’s childhood immunization schedule in January 2026. Under the Trump administration and Kennedy’s direction, the U.S. childhood vaccine schedule was reduced from approximately 17 universally recommended vaccines to roughly 11.
Several vaccines, including those for flu, rotavirus, hepatitis A and B, some meningococcal vaccines, and RSV, are no longer broadly recommended. Instead, they now fall under shared decision-making protocols or are advised only for high-risk groups.
In related news, the administration also released new Dietary Guidelines last week, emphasizing high-quality protein, healthy fats, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. These guidelines encourage Americans to avoid highly processed foods and refined carbohydrates, another key component of Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” initiative.