HHS Secretary Replaces Entire CDC Vaccine Panel Amid Lawmaker Concerns

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently fired all 17 members of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), a move that has sparked bipartisan concern. Kennedy named eight new members, including individuals known for vaccine skepticism and misinformation, prompting alarm from public health officials and Senator Patty Murray, who called the purge unprecedented and dangerous. Senator Bill Cassidy, chairman of the Senate HELP Committee, initially supported Kennedy's confirmation after assurances that vaccination programs would be protected, but has expressed concerns about the new panel's composition and pledged to continue discussions with Kennedy. Cassidy's political position is complicated by his prior support for Kennedy and his upcoming reelection bid amidst pressure from Republican leaders and former President Donald Trump. Critics, including the American Medical Association, warn that the dismissal undermines public trust in vaccine science and disrupts a historically transparent advisory process. Kennedy defended his action as necessary to restore public confidence in vaccine science, but the controversy highlights deep divisions over vaccine policy and public health guidance.