US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vocal vaccine skeptic, has dismissed all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the body responsible for issuing official government vaccination recommendations.
In a Wall Street Journal editorial, Kennedy justified the action, citing alleged conflicts of interest within ACIP as a factor undermining public trust in vaccinations. He stated his intention was to “ensure the American people receive the safest vaccines possible.”
Kennedy’s long-held questioning of vaccine safety and efficacy has drawn criticism from medical professionals. Despite stating during his Senate confirmation hearing that he wouldn’t eliminate vaccination programs, he announced the removal of all ACIP members on Monday, referring to it as a “retirement” of the panel. Eight of the dismissed members were appointed in the final days of President Biden’s term.
The majority of the dismissed members are practicing physicians and experts affiliated with leading university medical centers. Kennedy argued that retaining the existing committee would have prevented President Trump from appointing a majority of members until 2028. In the editorial, he asserted that the committee “has been plagued with persistent conflicts of interest and has become little more than a rubber stamp for any vaccine,” blaming health authorities and pharmaceutical companies for a “crisis of public trust.”
Kennedy cited alleged past conflicts of interest and claimed that “Most of ACIP’s members have received substantial funding from pharmaceutical companies, including those marketing vaccines.” This action directly contradicts assurances Kennedy reportedly gave during his confirmation hearings. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), a physician, stated that Kennedy committed to maintaining ACIP “without changes.”
Senator Cassidy expressed concern on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “The fear is that the ACIP will be filled up with people who know nothing about vaccines except suspicion,” adding he would continue dialogue with Secretary Kennedy to ensure this doesn’t occur. While ACIP members are required to disclose and recuse themselves from conflicts of interest, Kennedy argued the issue lies within “a system of industry-aligned incentives and paradigms that enforce a narrow pro-industry orthodoxy.”
Dr. Bruce Scott, president of the American Medical Association, condemned the mass dismissal, calling it a disruption of a “transparent process that has saved countless lives” and warning that it could worsen vaccine-preventable illnesses. Kennedy hasn’t announced replacements. ACIP’s next meeting, scheduled for June 25th, will address recommendations for COVID-19, influenza, meningococcal disease, RSV, and other vaccines.
The BBC has contacted the US Department of Health and Human Services and ACIP Chair Dr. Helen Keipp Talbot for comment.
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