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
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Scientific American
Kennedy guts CDC vaccine recommendation panel
World News Group
RFK Jr. Is as Bad as We All Imagined
The Bulwark
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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 Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s dismissal of CDC vaccine advisory members and controversial new appointments.
"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."
Chicago Sun-Times"Kennedy said reconstituting the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (Acip) was a "major step towards restoring public trust in vaccines.""
BBC News"It’s been a disheartening week for those of us who care about the American experiment in self-government."
The Bulwark"Kennedy's decision to clean house seems to bypass the thorough, nonpartisan vetting process typically used to select new members."
The Dispatch"RFK Jr.’s new CDC panel is characterized by a significant presence of individuals who are skeptical of the Biden administration's vaccine policies."
Fortune"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."
CBS News"The move amounted to "putting RFK like-minded people and removing all potential internal CDC opposition" in the committee, calling it far from normal."
CBS News"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."
NPR"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."
ABC News"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."
USA TODAY"The appointments are likely to increase concern that federal vaccine recommendations will be corrupted and lead to Americans losing access to lifesaving vaccines."
ARS Technica"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."
ABC News"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."
Chicago Tribune"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."
Associated Press"The new members include well-known vaccine skeptics and others who have been critical of Covid vaccines or pandemic interventions like lockdowns."
NBC News"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."
ABC News"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."
Associated Press"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."
USA TODAY"A sense of rudderlessness inside the CDC has deepened in recent months, staff members said."
NBC News"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."
USA TODAY"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."
Associated Press"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."
ABC News"At this point, we should be alarmed but hardly surprised."
The Bulwark"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."
Associated PressArticles (66)
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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