US conducts comprehensive alterations to main vaccine group
(MENAFN) The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has dismissed all members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), a key panel that has influenced national vaccine policies for decades. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the move, citing the need to restore public trust and address ongoing concerns about conflicts of interest within the group.
Established in the 1960s under the CDC, ACIP has faced criticism for financial ties between its members and pharmaceutical companies, highlighted in reports from a House committee in 2000 and the HHS inspector general in 2009. Kennedy described the panel as having a history of “persecution of dissidents” and “skewed science,” and emphasized the necessity of starting fresh with new members.
While acknowledging that most ACIP members likely act in good faith, Kennedy argued they operate within a system heavily influenced by industry interests, leading to a biased pro-pharma approach. Eight of the most recent members were appointed during the final days of the Biden administration.
The shakeup has drawn criticism from former CDC officials, including Mandy Cohen and Richard Besser, who warn that the changes sow confusion and suggest Kennedy is pushing a personal anti-vaccine agenda. Kennedy, often labeled an “anti-vaxxer” by critics, has long challenged US vaccine policies and pledged during his confirmation to make science-based decisions.
He also cautioned against blaming the public’s loss of trust solely on misinformation or anti-science views, calling for broader efforts to rebuild confidence in health programs.
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