Redefined CDC committee pursues changes in vaccination strategies amidst voiced apprehensions
The first meeting of the newly installed lineup of the Centre for Disease Control's (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) was shrouded in controversy, with public health experts, medical organisations, and vaccine advocates expressing concerns. The controversy stems from the unprecedented mass dismissal and replacement of all 17 members of the ACIP by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in early June 2025.
The new ACIP members, some without expertise in vaccinology and immunology, include vaccine critics. One new member resigned before the first meeting due to conflict-of-interest issues, raising concerns over the vetting process and transparency of the new committee. Critics fear that the new lineup lacks the scientific qualifications and experience traditionally required for ACIP members, potentially undermining the committee’s credibility and independence.
The first meeting of the new ACIP included presentations on contentious topics like thimerosal in vaccines and the MMRV vaccine for young children, causing further alarm. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) boycotted the meeting, stating the process has been politicized "at the expense of children's health."
Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del., has introduced a bill that would prevent the HHS secretary from terminating ACIP members without cause and require the secretary to reinstate the fired members. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., who chairs the House Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, had reservations about Kennedy's vaccine stance but ultimately voted for him. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., the panel's ranking member, called for a bipartisan investigation into the firing of the panel's members.
The ACIP's recommendations are crucial as they influence vaccine availability and insurance coverage in the US. The disruption threatens the stability and trust in immunization policies that have been built over decades. In the absence of widely trusted ACIP recommendations, healthcare providers will be key in picking up the slack, as they are generally more trusted than public health institutions.
Richard Hughes, a vaccine policy teacher at George Washington University and a partner at the law firm Epstein Becker Green, anticipates that the new ACIP panel may alter recommendations. The CDC itself has debunked claims that thimerosal is linked to ADHD and autism. The panel's overhaul could have consequences for vaccine access due to insurers linking coverage to the CDC's recommendations.
Martin Kulldorff, the new chair of the ACIP, proclaimed that vaccines are not all good or bad. Kulldorff, who was part of the Great Barrington Declaration, which called for the lifting of COVID-19 lockdowns before vaccines were available, defended his stance, claiming he was unfairly fired from Harvard University during the pandemic for not complying with its COVID-19 vaccine requirement.
The bill, co-sponsored by Democratic Sens. Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland, Jeff Merkley of Oregon, and Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico, aims to restore trust and stability to the ACIP. As the debate continues, the future of vaccine policy in the US remains uncertain.
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