Karmactive Staff
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has fired all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the expert panel that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on vaccine recommendations. Kennedy announced the sweeping change on Monday, saying he plans to completely rebuild the committee.
“A clean sweep is needed to re-establish public confidence in vaccine science,” Kennedy wrote in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece. He claimed the committee was “plagued with persistent conflicts of interest” and had become “little more than a rubber stamp for any vaccine.”
The fired advisory panel plays a crucial role in American public health. Their recommendations determine which vaccines doctors should give to patients, which shots insurance companies must cover, and which vaccines are provided free to uninsured children through government programs.
Kennedy noted that all current members were appointed during the Biden administration, with 13 appointed in 2024 alone. “Without removing the current members, the current Trump administration would not have been able to appoint a majority of new members until 2028,” Kennedy explained.
The decision has sparked strong criticism from major medical organizations across the country.
Dr. Bruce Scott, president of the American Medical Association, said Kennedy’s move “undermines trust and upends a transparent process that has saved countless lives.” He warned that with declining vaccination rates and an ongoing measles outbreak, “this move will further fuel the spread of vaccine-preventable illnesses.”
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Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association, called the mass firing “a coup” and said, “It’s not how democracies work. It’s not good for the health of the nation.” Benjamin also claimed Kennedy broke promises made during his confirmation hearings to maintain the committee “without changes.”
Even Republican Senator Bill Cassidy, who voted to confirm Kennedy, expressed worry: “Now the fear is that the ACIP will be filled up with people who know nothing about vaccines except suspicion.”
Kennedy, a longtime vaccine skeptic, has already made several controversial changes to vaccine policy since taking office. Last month, he changed COVID-19 vaccine guidance for healthy children and pregnant women without consulting the advisory committee. He also canceled funding for bird flu vaccine research.
While Kennedy claims committee members had conflicts of interest with drug companies, the source of his concern remains unclear. ACIP members routinely disclose any potential conflicts at the start of public meetings and must recuse themselves from votes where conflicts might arise.
The dismissal comes just before a scheduled June 25-27 ACIP meeting where recommendations for COVID-19, flu, and other vaccines were expected. The Department of Health and Human Services says this meeting will still happen with new committee members, though experts question whether proper vetting can occur so quickly.
Kennedy insists his goal is to “prioritize the restoration of public trust above any specific pro- or anti-vaccine agenda.” However, many health experts fear the opposite effect – that dismantling a respected scientific committee will further erode confidence in vaccines at a time when preventable diseases are already making a comeback.
