Vaccine Industry, Officials Mobilize to Preserve Access Amid RFK Jr. Policy Shifts

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has significantly shifted U.S. vaccine policy by disbanding the longstanding Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and appointing new members skeptical of vaccine safety, including rolling back flu vaccine recommendations containing thimerosal despite scientific consensus on its safety. This move has sparked concern among public health experts and Democrats who warn that such actions could increase vaccine hesitancy, undermine herd immunity, and ultimately cost lives. In response, vaccine makers, pharmacists, medical societies, and some state health officials are collaborating to establish a nongovernmental vaccine recommendation and purchasing system to preserve vaccine access and maintain the existing vaccination framework outside of federal control. Despite these disruptions, a recent poll shows broad public and bipartisan support for routine childhood vaccination, including among supporters of President Trump’s political movement. The ongoing debate highlights tensions between the Trump administration's health policies under Kennedy and scientific consensus, with vaccine advocates emphasizing the importance of trusted medical guidance to prevent declines in vaccination rates and protect public health.