Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has dismissed the entire Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the expert panel that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on immunizations. Kennedy, known for his skepticism of vaccines, stated that this move aims to “restore faith in vaccines.” The ACIP evaluates vaccines in the regulatory pipeline and those recently licensed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), advising the CDC on their use.
The decision has raised concerns among vaccine proponents and public health experts. The committee members were reportedly not informed in advance and received an unsigned email about their termination.
Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.), chair of the Senate’s health committee, voiced concerns about Kennedy’s anti-vaccine stance but is working to ensure the panel will not be filled with individuals “who know nothing about vaccines except suspicion.”
The ACIP, which meets three times a year, plays a crucial role in reviewing vaccine data and recommending usage guidelines. Kennedy has not approved three recommendations made by the ACIP at its last meeting in April.
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