RFK Jr.’s New Vaccine Panel Kicks Off Controversial Review of Childhood Immunization Schedule
RFK Jr.’s New Vaccine Panel Kicks Off Controversial Review of Childhood Immunization Schedule
The federal panel responsible for shaping U.S. vaccine policy, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), has commenced a pivotal two-day meeting, signaling a dramatic shift in its priorities under the influence of Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Kicking off yesterday morning at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters in Atlanta, the meeting marks the debut of an entirely new roster of experts, handpicked by Kennedy.
This unprecedented overhaul comes after Kennedy controversially dismissed all 17 members of the previous, Biden-appointed panel earlier this month, replacing them with a smaller selection, some of whom have previously promoted misleading information regarding COVID-19 vaccines. The new ACIP chair, Martin Kulldorff, an epidemiologist formerly at Harvard Medical School, opened the meeting by emphasizing the need to “rebuild public trust” in federal health institutions, citing “inflated promises” about COVID vaccines and mandates.
In line with this new directive, ACIP announced the formation of a new workgroup tasked with meticulously studying the cumulative effects of the recommended childhood vaccine schedule. This includes examining the “interaction effects between different vaccines, the total number of vaccines, cumulative amounts of vaccine ingredients and the relative timing of different vaccines.” Kulldorff highlighted that the current number of vaccines children receive in the U.S. surpasses that of most other developed nations and what previous generations received.
Another newly established workgroup will specifically target vaccines that haven’t undergone review in over seven years. Topics slated for re-examination include the universal recommendation for the hepatitis B shot at birth, immunization practices for measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (chickenpox), and the timing of the measles vaccine to accommodate religious objections.
These new areas of focus have already sparked apprehension among vaccine experts. Jason Schwartz, an associate professor at the Yale School of Public Health, voiced concerns that the panel is “signaling interest in revisiting long-settled questions around vaccine safety,” potentially legitimizing long-standing criticisms of vaccines through a previously well-respected government body.
The meeting also touched on potential conflicts of interest. Both Kulldorff and Dr. Robert Malone, another ACIP member appointed by Kennedy, have received payments as expert witnesses in litigation against vaccine manufacturer Merck. However, both asserted they had no conflicts of interest concerning the topics discussed at Wednesday’s meeting, with Malone stating his vetting process confirmed a lack of conflicts by HHS and CDC. This suggests Kennedy’s overhaul of ACIP has been in the works for some time, despite the new members being appointed only two weeks ago.
Interestingly, the first morning of the meeting included presentations from CDC scientists on COVID-19 data and vaccines. Some of this data appeared to directly challenge recent decisions by the Kennedy and Trump administrations, such as the removal of recommendations to vaccinate healthy children and pregnant women. A slide summarizing epidemiology indicated severe outcomes for children hospitalized with COVID-19, with a quarter admitted to ICU, and highlighted risks to infants under six months who rely on maternal antibodies due to the lack of approved shots for their age group.
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