RFK Jr. Ousts CDC Vaccine Panel

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has removed all 17 members of the United States — Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), a scientific committee that advises the United States — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on vaccine use. Kennedy announced plans to replace them with his own nominees, with the new committee set to convene in two weeks in Atlanta. He justified the 'clean sweep' in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece, citing persistent conflicts of interest among current members and the need to re-establish public confidence in vaccine science. This decision has drawn sharp criticism from major medical and public health organizations, including the American Public Health Association and the American Medical Association, who called the move a 'coup' and warned of undermined trust and potential increases in vaccine-preventable diseases. Senator Bill Cassidy, who had previously sought assurances from Kennedy regarding the ACIP, expressed concerns that the new committee might be filled with individuals suspicious of vaccines. This action follows other controversial moves by Kennedy, such as changing COVID-19 vaccine recommendations without consulting the ACIP and postponing its meetings. An NPR investigation, however, found no evidence to support Kennedy's claims of conflicts of interest in the government report he cited. Public health experts are deeply concerned about the impact of this overhaul on vaccine policy and public trust in the United States.