Kennedy Appointed US Vaccine Panel Revises Childhood Immunization, Approves New Infant RSV Shot

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has dramatically reshaped the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) by firing all previous members and appointing a new panel that includes vaccine skeptics and critics of established vaccine science. The revamped ACIP, chaired by Dr. Martin Kulldorff and including figures like Dr. Robert Malone, has begun reviewing and signaling potential changes to the childhood immunization schedule, including questioning the timing of the hepatitis B vaccine at birth and the safety of vaccine preservatives like thimerosal, despite scientific consensus refuting links to autism. The committee also recently recommended Merck’s newly approved antibody treatment, clesrovimab (marketed as Enflonsia), to protect infants against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), marking its first major policy decision under Kennedy’s leadership. Kennedy has further announced the U.S. will withdraw funding from the global vaccine alliance Gavi, criticizing its handling of vaccine safety and public trust. These moves have drawn strong criticism from medical organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, which boycotted ACIP meetings, and public health experts who warn that the panel’s ideological shift risks undermining vaccine confidence, coverage, and access. The committee’s evolving policies are poised to significantly impact vaccine recommendations, insurance coverage, and public health strategies in the U.S.