HHS and CDC Appoint Two New ACIP Members
- Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on February 27, 2026, the appointment of two new physicians to...
- These appointments are part of a broader effort by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F.
- The ACIP is the primary body responsible for developing recommendations on vaccine use in the United States.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on February 27, 2026, the appointment of two new physicians to the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).
These appointments are part of a broader effort by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. To integrate diverse clinical expertise, rigorous science, and transparency into the guidance of national immunization policies.
The ACIP is the primary body responsible for developing recommendations on vaccine use in the United States. In June 2025, Secretary Kennedy reconstituted the committee with the stated goal of restoring public trust in vaccines.
New Committee Appointments
The two physicians appointed to the committee are Sean G. Downing, M.D., and Angelina Farella, M.D.
Dr. Sean G. Downing specializes in Internal Medicine, and Pediatrics. He is a Florida-licensed physician with more than two decades of experience in primary care across the lifespan. His clinical background includes providing pediatric concierge care and internal medicine in Sarasota, Florida, where he holds admission privileges at Sarasota Memorial Hospital.
Prior to his work in Florida, Dr. Downing served as an outpatient primary care physician for patients who were medically uninsured in Nashua, New Hampshire. He has also worked in urgent care and emergency settings.
Dr. Downing earned his medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine and completed a combined residency in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at Brown University. He also underwent additional graduate training in the fields of pharmacology and physiology.
Dr. Angelina Farella is a pediatrician and the owner of A Brighter Tomorrow Family Health and Wellness, located in Webster, Texas. She has practiced pediatric care for more than 20 years.
Since 2004, Dr. Farella has led her own private practice. Her clinical experience also includes work in pediatric urgent care and locum tenens roles.
Context of ACIP Reconstitution
The addition of Dr. Downing and Dr. Farella follows a series of changes to the ACIP membership under Secretary Kennedy’s leadership.
On September 15, 2025, the HHS and CDC announced the appointment of five new members to the committee. These earlier appointments were also described as reflecting a commitment to evidence-based science and transparency.
on January 13, 2026, the HHS and CDC announced the appointment of two OB-GYNs to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
The sequence of these appointments indicates a systematic restructuring of the committee’s clinical composition throughout late 2025 and early 2026, focusing on bringing in physicians with extensive experience in private practice, pediatric care, and internal medicine.