US Health Secretary Fires Entire CDC Vaccine Advisory Committee

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has dismissed the entire 17-member Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), citing numerous conflicts of interest among members who were largely Biden appointees with ties to pharmaceutical companies and Democratic donors. This unprecedented move aims to rebuild public trust by replacing the panel with new members focused on transparent, evidence-based medicine rather than industry agendas. The decision has faced strong criticism from medical professionals and organizations, including the American Medical Association, for undermining vaccine policy and public confidence amid ongoing outbreaks and declining vaccination rates. The shakeup follows prior actions by Kennedy, such as unilaterally removing COVID-19 vaccines from the CDC's recommended schedule for children and pregnant women, which led to high-profile resignations from the committee, signaling internal discord. Meanwhile, some members have had their government contracts terminated, raising questions about the motives and processes behind the dismissals. Kennedy insists that these changes are necessary to restore the integrity and impartiality of vaccine recommendations in the U.S.