RFK Jr. Ousts CDC Vaccine Panel Over Conflicts

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has dismissed all 17 members of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), citing persistent conflicts of interest and a need for a 'clean sweep' to restore public trust. Kennedy, a longtime vaccine skeptic, argued that the ousted panel consisted mostly of last-minute Biden appointees and accused them of being too closely aligned with industry interests. The move, announced in a Wall Street Journal op-ed, marks a major shift in federal vaccine policy and allows the new administration to appoint its own members. Critics, including pro-vaccine advocates, warn this could destabilize U.S. vaccination guidelines and diminish the credibility of future vaccine recommendations. The ACIP, which guides national immunization schedules and insurance coverage, will be reconstituted with new members, though no replacements or timeline have been announced. The next ACIP meeting is scheduled to proceed at the end of June.