Health Secretary fires Vaccine Panel, Citing ‍Need to Restore Trust

⁤ ⁢ Updated June 10, 2025

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. ⁢Kennedy⁣ Jr. has fired the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the expert panel advising the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on vaccines. Kennedy stated the action is necessary to ⁤restore public confidence in vaccine ⁢science and address concerns about ⁣vaccine policy.

In a Wall Street journal⁢ op-ed, Kennedy said a “clean sweep is needed to re-establish public⁣ confidence in vaccine science.” The‍ move ⁤has sparked ‍worries among vaccine proponents, ‍given‍ Kennedy’s skepticism toward vaccines and his criticism of‍ the ACIP, which ⁢advises the CDC on vaccine use⁤ after FDA approval.

Michael Osterholm, director of the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease research and Policy, expressed concern. “We have just demonstrated that politics will⁣ overrun science in⁤ this governance. It scares me to think of what’s ahead,” Osterholm said.

One anonymous former committee⁣ member said they were not informed beforehand, receiving only an unsigned email after the fact. The member predicted significant upheaval in vaccination policy, adding, “Providers are no longer going to follow the‍ CDC [vaccination] schedule… ‍The CDC has lost credibility in the vaccination space… It adds a lot of uncertainty for care‍ for children and adults.”

Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La.,who chairs the Senate’s ⁣health committee,voiced concerns about Kennedy’s⁤ anti-vaccine⁤ stance during his confirmation ⁢hearing.He stated on X that he spoke with Kennedy and is working to ensure the panel ⁣is ‍not filled with‍ individuals “who know nothing about⁢ vaccines except suspicion.” Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine,⁣ called the decision “excessive,” emphasizing the importance of advisory committees⁢ in providing public guidance.

“We have just demonstrated that politics will overrun science in this administration. It scares me to think of ‍what’s ahead,” said Michael Osterholm, director of the University ⁢of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy.

Richard Hughes, a lawyer with Epstein Becker Green, warned‍ that ⁤science-based vaccination policy may be at risk. “this ⁢upends 64 years of thoughtful, evidence-based decision-making,” Hughes said, adding that new members could introduce misinformation into the process.

Bruce Gellin, a former director of the HHS National Vaccine Program Office, echoed this ⁤concern.Paul‍ Offit, a former ACIP member and rotavirus vaccine developer, said the committee’s work has significantly improved public health. “They ⁤should‍ be ⁢given an award, not fired,” Offit stated.

“RFK Jr. has for 20 years shown you ⁣who he is. And nothing has ⁢happened as he’s been secretary of HHS to make you ⁤feel any differently,” Offit added.

Former CDC Director⁢ Tom Frieden called the move “a grave mistake ⁤that sacrificed⁣ decades of scientific rigor, undermined public trust, and opened‍ the door for fringe theories rather than facts to guide the recommendations that doctors rely on to protect⁤ patients.”

Kennedy’s action contradicts commitments he made to Cassidy⁤ during ⁢his confirmation, where he pledged to⁤ maintain ACIP recommendations⁢ without creating ⁣a new safety system.⁢ Kennedy argued‍ he is acting to restore⁢ confidence in public health leadership, claiming the previous administration stacked the committee.

Critics point to kennedy’s history of questioning vaccine safety and⁤ efficacy, including his leadership of a ⁢nonprofit that falsely linked vaccines to autism. The American⁢ Medical Association’s president, Bruce Scott, said the move “undermines that trust⁣ and upends a clear process that has saved countless lives.”

What’s next

The ⁤selection of new ACIP members will be closely watched,‍ as it will indicate⁢ the future direction of U.S. vaccination policy and the role ⁢of scientific evidence in public health decisions. The upcoming ACIP meeting scheduled for late ⁤June will proceed, according to HHS.