RFK Jr. Fires Entire CDC Vaccine Panel, Citing Conflicts of Interest

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced a significant shake-up in the nation’s vaccine advisory process. All 17 members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) vaccine expert panel, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), have been dismissed. Secretary Kennedy stated, “The people who are in charge of that are now gone. We’re going to bring people onto the ACIP panel — not anti-vaxxers — we’re bringing people on who are credentialed scientists, who are highly credentialed physicians who are going to do evidence-based medicine.” The Secretary’s action follows concerns about potential conflicts of interest due to the panel members' past collaborations with pharmaceutical companies. This decision is likely to generate considerable debate within the scientific community and among policymakers. The replacement of the ACIP members with individuals committed to evidence-based medicine signals a potential shift in the approach to vaccine recommendations. This move could have a significant impact on future vaccine policies and public health strategies.