New CDC Panel Reviews Childhood, Adolescent Vaccines

The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), now chaired by Martin Kulldorff following a complete restructuring by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has begun reviewing the entire childhood and adolescent vaccine schedule, including vaccines not previously revisited in over seven years. This review will assess the cumulative effects, timing, and interactions of multiple vaccines, such as hepatitis B at birth and MMR, in response to ongoing concerns about vaccine safety. The committee's new direction reflects Kennedy's vaccine-skeptical stance and has drawn criticism from public health experts, who argue the current vaccine system is effective and essential for disease prevention. The ACIP's recommendations are influential, shaping CDC guidance and insurance coverage nationwide. During its first meeting in Atlanta, Kulldorff defended the panel's work against media accusations of anti-vaccine bias and emphasized the need for rigorous safety and efficacy data. The review could lead to changes in longstanding immunization practices and is being closely watched by both supporters and critics.