US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Dismisses Entire Vaccine Advisory Committee, Appoints New Members
In an unprecedented move that has sent ripples through the public health community, US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has fired all 17 sitting members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) influential Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Just days after this mass dismissal, Kennedy announced the appointment of eight new individuals to the key panel responsible for shaping national vaccine policy and recommendations.
The ACIP plays a crucial role in determining the U.S. immunization schedule. This independent committee of outside experts reviews data and provides evidence-based recommendations on which vaccines should be used, for whom, and when. Their guidance is vital for health providers, helps determine insurance coverage for immunizations, and has historically been foundational to preventing millions of deaths from infectious diseases.
Reasoning and Rationale for the Shake-Up
Announcing the decision on social media, Secretary Kennedy, a prominent figure known for his skepticism regarding vaccine safety and efficacy, stated that reconstituting ACIP was a “major step towards restoring public trust in vaccines.” He alleged that the previous committee had become “plagued with persistent conflicts of interest” and was “little more than a rubber stamp for any vaccine,” claims that critics and former members have disputed, asserting that rigorous conflict of interest standards were already in place.
Kennedy also noted in a Wall Street Journal editorial that eight of the dismissed members were appointed in the final days of the previous administration in January 2025. Removing them, he suggested, would allow a subsequent administration to appoint a majority on the panel sooner than 2028. Kennedy characterized the mass firing as a “clean sweep” necessary to address the “crisis of public trust” he attributes to health authorities and drug companies.
New Appointees Include Figures Known for Vaccine Skepticism
Secretary Kennedy praised the newly appointed members, including Joseph R. Hibbeln, Martin Kulldorff, Retsef Levi, Robert W. Malone, Cody Meissner, James Pagano, Vicky Pebsworth, and Michael A. Ross. He described them as “highly credentialed scientists, leading public-health experts, and some of America’s most accomplished physicians,” asserting their commitment to “evidence-based medicine, gold-standard science, and common sense.” Kennedy added that the new members have “each committed to demanding definitive safety and efficacy data before making any new vaccine recommendations.”
However, the appointments have quickly drawn scrutiny due to the backgrounds of several individuals. While some have prior experience on related CDC or FDA committees, others gained prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic by criticizing public health measures and vaccines:
Dr. Robert W. Malone has been accused of spreading misinformation about mRNA vaccines and making disproven claims.
Martin Kulldorff was a key architect of the Great Barrington Declaration, which questioned early COVID-19 public health strategies like lockdowns. He previously served on an ACIP vaccine safety subgroup.
Retsef Levi has publicly expressed strong concerns about mRNA vaccines, claiming they cause unprecedented harm and calling for their withdrawal.
Vicky Pebsworth is associated with the National Vaccine Information Center, an organization known for raising concerns about vaccine risks and advocating for exemptions.
- Dr. Cody Meissner, who previously served on ACIP and an FDA panel, has criticized masking children and indicated support for removing COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for healthy children and pregnant women. Notably, NPR reported he had made conflict of interest disclosures during a previous ACIP term.
- www.bbc.com
- www.npr.org
- san.com
- www.theguardian.com
- www.cbc.ca
Widespread Criticism from Health Experts and Organizations
The rapid and non-transparent process of dismissing the entire committee and appointing a new one has provoked widespread concern and outrage from numerous health experts and professional organizations. Critics argue that some of the new appointees lack relevant expertise in immunology and vaccine policy and that their inclusion risks undermining the historically nonpartisan, evidence-based guidance provided by ACIP.
Dr. Jason Goldman, president of the American College of Physicians, stated that the speed and lack of transparency “does not help to restore public confidence and trust, and contributes to confusion and uncertainty.” Public health advocates like Professor Dorit Reiss have interpreted the appointments as an effort to establish a committee “skeptical of vaccines, and possibly willing to implement an anti-vaccine agenda,” fearing it could “jolt” and undermine vaccine policy.
Former ACIP member Dr. Paul Offit lamented the loss of “valuable expertise, experience, and institutional memory.” Richard H. Hughes IV, a vaccine law professor, warned the changes could lead to a departure from evidence-based policy, labeling several appointees as vaccine skeptics. The American Medical Association (AMA), the nation’s largest physician group, called the move a “medical coup” and has called for a Senate investigation and an immediate reversal of the decision, expressing concern about the potential impact on public health efforts, including ongoing vaccination campaigns amidst measles outbreaks and declining immunization rates.
Furthermore, a procedural challenge exists: ACIP is chartered for 19 members (15 voting, 1 consumer representative), and a quorum requires more than half of the voting members. With only eight members currently appointed, the committee may not be able to function effectively at its next scheduled meeting in late June without temporary authorizations for additional voting members.
The overhaul represents a significant departure from the standard procedures for managing the crucial ACIP panel, raising questions about the future direction of U.S. vaccine recommendations and public health guidance. This move follows Kennedy’s prior action overriding ACIP’s April votes regarding COVID-19 shots for children and pregnant women.
