Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he is removing every member of the independent panel advising the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on vaccines, an unprecedented escalation in his quest to reshape the agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a Wall Street Journal op-ed released Monday, Kennedy said the move was necessary to restore faith in vaccines. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA clean sweep is needed to re-establish public confidence in vaccine science,\u201d Kennedy wrote. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe public must know that unbiased science\u2014evaluated through a transparent process and insulated from conflicts of interest\u2014guides the recommendations of our health agencies,\u201d Kennedy said in a subsequent statement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kennedy said removing every member of the panel will give the Trump administration an opportunity to appoint its own members. Kennedy has long accused ACIP members of having conflicts of interest, sparking concern among vaccine advocates that he would seek to install members who are far more skeptical of approving new vaccines. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe prior administration made a concerted effort to lock in public health ideology and limit the incoming administration\u2019s ability to take the proper actions to restore public trust in vaccines,\u201d Kennedy said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The panelists are not political appointees. The ACIP meets three times a year to review data on vaccines and recommend how they should be used. It is comprised of independent medical and public health experts who do not work for CDC. Members are appointed to four-year terms <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The panel recently considered narrowing the recommendations for COVID-19 vaccinations for children and was next scheduled to meet later this month to review and vote on recommendations. The HHS statement indicated the meeting will continue as scheduled at CDC\u2019s Atlanta headquarters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ahead of Kennedy\u2019s Senate confirmation vote, Sen. Bill Cassidy\u2002<\/u><\/a>(R-La.) said Kennedy pledged to maintain the panel \u201cwithout changes.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n In a post on X<\/u><\/a>, Cassidy said he had just spoken with Kennedy about the move. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOf course, now the fear is that the ACIP will be filled up with people who know nothing about vaccines except suspicion,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve just spoken with Secretary Kennedy, and I\u2019ll continue to talk with him to ensure this is not the case.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cassidy declined to answer additional questions Monday evening when asked by reporters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n