


Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Overhauls CDC Vaccine Advisory Board, Sparking Controversy
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dismissed the CDC's vaccine advisory board, appointing new members, including critics of vaccines, raising concerns about public trust and safety.

Meet RFK Jr.’s eight new picks for vaccine advisory committee

Washington Examiner

RFK Jr. appoints eight new members of CDC vaccine panel after cleanout

Washington Examiner

Department of Health and Human Crackpots

The Bulwark

RFK Jr. Replaces Vaccine Advisory Panel

The Dispatch
Hundreds of laid-off CDC employees are being reinstated

Associated Press

Fired vaccine panel experts received thousands from Big Pharma

Washington Examiner

Doctors ask Senate to investigate RFK Jr. over vaccine panel firings

Washington Examiner

Can You Still Get a COVID Vaccine This Fall? Here’s What to Know

Scientific American

Kennedy guts CDC vaccine recommendation panel

World News Group

RFK Jr. Is as Bad as We All Imagined

The Bulwark
Overview
- Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dismissed all members of the CDC's vaccine advisory board, replacing them with new appointees, including critics of vaccines.
- The decision faced widespread criticism from health organizations and experts, who warned it could undermine public trust in vaccines and impact vaccine access.
- Kennedy's new appointees include individuals known for questioning vaccine safety and efficacy, raising concerns about their influence on public health policy.
- The overhaul of the advisory board has prompted calls for a Senate investigation into the lack of transparency in the selection process of new members.
- Experts argue that the abrupt changes to the vaccine advisory committee could lead to increased public distrust and jeopardize the safety of vaccination programs.
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Analysis
Emphasizes ongoing conflicts of interest allegations against the vaccine committee without providing evidence.
Kennedy claimed that the committee members had conflicts of interest without evidence, suggesting ongoing issues with conflicts of interest.


Sen. Bill Cassidy voted to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as health secretary, despite reservations about his views on vaccines.


Cassidy convinced Kennedy to maintain the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices without changes, but RFK Jr. ultimately did not keep this promise.


The claim that the committee has conflicts of interest is simply wrong.

30 health and medical organizations are advocating for continued access and insurance coverage for Covid-19 vaccines for pregnant individuals.

Emphasizes Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s dismissal of CDC vaccine advisory members and controversial new appointments.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired all 17 members of the CDC's vaccine advisory committee and appointed eight new members.



RFK Jr. appointed eight new members, including vaccine critics, to the CDC's vaccine advisory committee.



Kennedy removed and plans to replace all 17 members of ACIP due to conflicts of interest.



The ACIP, composed of leading public health experts including pediatricians and geriatricians, advises the CDC on vaccine usage through public meetings reviewing scientific evidence.



Calley Means has gained a following in the 'Make America Healthy Again' movement by criticizing the U.S. health system and attributing its failings to corruption.



Means, a top aide to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., was hired as a White House adviser in March.



He has criticized leading physician groups, federal agencies, and government scientists for prioritizing their own interests in the $4.9 trillion healthcare industry.



Kennedy promises transparency in running the Department of Health and Human Services, while Means lacks public disclosure of financial details and policy intersections.



Truemed enables users to use tax-free funds from their HSAs for non-traditional medical expenses like exercise equipment, meal delivery services, and homeopathic remedies.



The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices advises the CDC on vaccine safety, efficacy, and clinical need, with recommendations typically approved and widely followed.



Emphasizes Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s appointment of eight new members to the CDC's vaccine advisory committee.
In early April, approximately 2,400 CDC employees were laid off as part of widespread cuts in federal health agencies.



Multiple CDC programs, including those addressing smoking, lead poisoning, gun violence, asthma, air quality, and workplace safety, were completely shut down.



Over 460 laid-off employees at the nation's top public health agency were reinstated on Wednesday.



Former CDC employees received reinstatement notices from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.



Approximately 200 reinstated workers are located at the CDC's National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and Tuberculosis Prevention.



Approximately 150 employees at the CDC's National Center for Environmental Health, including those working in a lead poisoning lab, have been reinstated.



Federal agencies faced legal challenges over layoffs, resulting in judges ordering some agencies to stop terminating employees.



HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon stated that the agency is streamlining operations while ensuring the effectiveness of critical public health functions.



Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appointed eight new members to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's vaccine advisory committee following the removal of the previous board.



Kennedy replaced all 17 members of the committee with new appointees.



Articles (66)
Center (24)
"…The American Medical Association is calling for an investigation into Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s decision to upend a major vaccine advisory committee at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention."


"…Kennedy said reconstituting the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (Acip) was a "major step towards restoring public trust in vaccines.""


"…It’s been a disheartening week for those of us who care about the American experiment in self-government."


"…Kennedy's decision to clean house seems to bypass the thorough, nonpartisan vetting process typically used to select new members."


"…RFK Jr.’s new CDC panel is characterized by a significant presence of individuals who are skeptical of the Biden administration's vaccine policies."


"…The speed with which these members were selected, and the lack of transparency in the process, does not help to restore public confidence and trust, and contributes to confusion and uncertainty."


"…The move amounted to "putting RFK like-minded people and removing all potential internal CDC opposition" in the committee, calling it far from normal."


"…Kennedy's decision to replace the entire roster of the ACIP jolted the public health and medical establishment, who feared the move cleared the way for a committee that will take steps to undermine vaccine policy."


"…Kennedy's decision to “retire” the previous 17-member Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices was widely decried by doctors' groups and public health organizations, who feared the advisers would be replaced by a group aligned with Kennedy's desire to reassess — and possibly end — longstanding vaccination recommendations."


"…Kennedy’s list of picks includes some widely-respected experts, such as Dr. Cody Meissner, chief of pediatric infectious diseases at Tufts Children’s Hospital."


"…The appointments are likely to increase concern that federal vaccine recommendations will be corrupted and lead to Americans losing access to lifesaving vaccines."


"…The new members appear to have strong credentials related to medicine, public health, epidemiology and statistics, but with less of an emphasis on credentials related to immunology, virology and vaccinology in comparison with previous committees."


"…Kennedy’s decision to “retire” the previous 17-member panel was widely decried by doctors’ groups and public health organizations, who feared the advisers would be replaced by a group aligned with Kennedy’s desire to reassess — and possibly end — longstanding vaccination recommendations."


"…Kennedy’s decision to “retire” the previous 17-member panel was widely decried by doctors’ groups and public health organizations, who feared the advisers would be replaced by a group aligned with Kennedy’s desire to reassess — and possibly end — longstanding vaccination recommendations."

"…The new members include well-known vaccine skeptics and others who have been critical of Covid vaccines or pandemic interventions like lockdowns."


"…Kennedy suggested that the current list of vaccines that are recommended for children would be re-analyzed by the new ACIP members, because he doesn't trust the science that led to their initial approvals."


"…Bringing a few hundred people back to work out of thousands fired is a start, but there are still countless programs at CDC that have been cut, which will lead to increased disease and death."

"…Kennedy criticized the process by which the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices recommends new vaccines, implying that "adequate safety trials" were not being conducted before recommending new vaccines to children, a notion that was strongly disputed by vaccine experts."

"…A sense of rudderlessness inside the CDC has deepened in recent months, staff members said."


"…Kennedy's decision marks a reversal from what a key Republican senator said the Trump Cabinet member had promised during his confirmation hearings earlier this year."

"…Means’ heated rhetoric against the medical mainstream often dovetails with the interests of his company Truemed, which features vendors who are prominent supporters of Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” movement."

"…Means’ rapid rise reflects the seeming contradictions within the MAHA movement itself, which urges followers to distrust both big corporations and the government agencies which regulate them."


"…At this point, we should be alarmed but hardly surprised."


"…Means' rapid rise reflects the seeming contradictions within the MAHA movement itself, which urges followers to distrust both big corporations and the government agencies which regulate them."

FAQ
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. removed all 17 members of the CDC's vaccine advisory board to restore public trust in vaccine science, aiming for a transparent process insulated from conflicts of interest and to prioritize public health over industry agendas.
The new appointees include individuals who are critics of vaccines and some allied with the anti-vaccine movement, raising concerns about their influence on public health policy.
Experts and health organizations warn that the overhaul could undermine public trust in vaccines, jeopardize vaccine safety, and may politicize science, potentially affecting vaccine access and public health negatively.
Yes, the overhaul has prompted calls for a Senate investigation into the lack of transparency in the selection process of the new vaccine advisory board members.
The Biden administration had appointed all 17 sitting members of the advisory board, with 13 of those appointments made in 2024, which would have delayed majority changes until 2028 if not for the removals.
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