RFK Jr to remove all members of CDC panel advising on US vaccines

Published: Monday, June 9, 2025 at 9:02 pm

**RFK Jr. Overhauls CDC Vaccine Advisory Panel**

Washington, D.C. - Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced on Monday his decision to remove all members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) advisory committee on vaccine experts. The committee, known as the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), will be entirely reconstituted under Kennedy's leadership.

Kennedy, in an opinion piece published in the Wall Street Journal, stated that the current committee members had too many conflicts of interest. The move to replace all 17 members will allow the administration to appoint a new majority sooner than would have been possible otherwise.

The decision has drawn sharp criticism from public health officials. Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association, described the mass removal as a "coup," expressing concerns about the impartiality of future committee members. He also noted that Kennedy's actions contradict previous statements made to lawmakers and the public.

Dr. Bruce A. Scott, president of the American Medical Association, also voiced strong disapproval, calling the committee a trusted source of scientific advice. He warned that Kennedy's actions, combined with declining vaccination rates, could lead to an increase in vaccine-preventable diseases. Scott stated that the move undermines trust and disrupts a transparent process that has saved lives.

The committee has been in a state of change since Kennedy took office. The first meeting of the year was delayed, and Kennedy recently altered COVID-19 recommendations without consulting the panel. The CDC's webpage listing the committee members was removed shortly after the announcement.

BNN's Perspective: While the Health Secretary has the authority to make these changes, the wholesale removal of experienced experts raises concerns about the potential for politicization of public health recommendations. It is crucial that the new committee members are selected based on their expertise and commitment to evidence-based decision-making to maintain public trust and ensure the continued effectiveness of vaccination programs.

Keywords: RFK Jr, CDC, vaccine, advisory committee, ACIP, conflicts of interest, public health, vaccination rates, health secretary, committee members, immunization, health, science, data, transparency, coup, American Medical Association, American Public Health Association.

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