Senate Health Chair Cassidy Calls to Delay RFK Jr. Vaccine Panel Meeting

Senator Bill Cassidy, chair of the Senate Health Committee, has called for a delay of the upcoming Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meeting, criticizing the recent overhaul of the vaccine advisory panel by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Cassidy expressed concerns that the newly appointed members lack sufficient experience in key areas like microbiology, epidemiology, immunology, and new vaccine technologies such as mRNA, and some may hold biases against certain vaccines. Kennedy's dismissal of the previous 17-member committee and appointment of a smaller group, including members skeptical of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, has alarmed Cassidy, who had previously supported Kennedy based on assurances of maintaining robust vaccine oversight. Cassidy emphasized the need for a fully staffed panel with balanced and qualified representation before proceeding with vaccine policy discussions, especially given the absence of a CDC director to approve recommendations. The scheduled meeting is set to discuss vaccines including COVID-19 and RSV shots. Cassidy’s call signals significant pushback from a key Senate figure on the direction of federal vaccine policy under Kennedy’s leadership.