RFK Jr. Vaccine Panel Removals: CDC Advisers Respond
- A group of 17 former members of a federal vaccine advisory committee contends that their abrupt dismissal by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F.Kennedy Jr.
- The former Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) members stated that Kennedy's actions have stripped the program of essential institutional knowledge and continuity.
- Kennedy claimed the previous panel was plagued by conflicts of interest and acted as a "rubber stamp" for all vaccines.He subsequently appointed eight new members, some with prior...
Former vaccine advisers are sounding the alarm, declaring their dismissal has weakened the U.S. vaccine program. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s decision to replace the commitee members is sparking debate. The ousted experts, writing in the Journal of the American Medical Association, share concerns about the loss of experience and the potential re-analysis of vital vaccine recommendations. Their argument centers on the potential impact on public health and access to life-saving immunizations. The former advisers present compelling data, showcasing the historic success of vaccination efforts. News Directory 3 is following this story closely. The new advisory committee is set to meet soon. Discover what’s next …
Former Advisers: Dismissal Weakens U.S.Vaccine Program
A group of 17 former members of a federal vaccine advisory committee contends that their abrupt dismissal by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F.Kennedy Jr. has critically weakened the nation’s vaccine program. The ousted advisers voiced their concerns in an editorial published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The former Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) members stated that Kennedy’s actions have stripped the program of essential institutional knowledge and continuity. Kennedy dismissed all 17 members, asserting in The Wall Street Journal that a “clean sweep” was necessary to restore public trust in vaccine science.
Kennedy claimed the previous panel was plagued by conflicts of interest and acted as a “rubber stamp” for all vaccines.He subsequently appointed eight new members, some with prior connections to him and some who have expressed vaccine-skeptical views.
Prior to the appointments, Kennedy told ABC News that the new ACIP members would be “credentialed” scientists and physicians who would be “objective” and follow “evidence-based medicine,” not “anti-vaxxers.”
Kennedy also told ABC News that the new ACIP members would re-analyze the current list of recommended childhood vaccines, expressing distrust in the science behind their initial approvals. The ACIP is responsible for evaluating vaccine safety and efficacy, and for making recommendations on who should receive vaccinations and when.
The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) traditionally has the final say on accepting the ACIP’s recommendations. However, with the CDC director role currently vacant, Kennedy has been making the final decisions.
“As former ACIP members, we are deeply concerned that these destabilizing decisions, made without clear rationale, may roll back the achievements of U.S. immunization policy, impact people’s access to lifesaving vaccines, and ultimately put U.S. families at risk of risky and preventable illnesses,” the former advisers wrote.
The former advisers emphasized that health care providers have historically trusted the CDC’s advisory committee to provide vaccine recommendations. They cited CDC data indicating that 99% of children in the U.S. have received at least some of the committee’s recommended vaccines by age 2.
The former advisers cited research showing that routine vaccination of about 117 million kids from 1994 to 2023 likely prevented 508 million lifetime cases of illnesses, 32 million hospitalizations and over 1.1 million deaths. The group estimates that these vaccinations equate to a net saving of $540 billion in direct costs and $2.7 trillion in societal costs.
The new advisers are scheduled to meet later this month to vote on vaccine recommendations related to COVID-19, HPV, flu, meningococcal and RSV shots, according to a federal notice. The prior members had already voted on recommendations for the RSV and meningococcal vaccines, but the changes were not adopted by Kennedy.
What’s next
The new ACIP’s upcoming meeting will be closely watched as they consider recommendations for several key vaccines, potentially reshaping the landscape of U.S. immunization policy and impacting public health.