RFK Jr. Ousts All Members of CDC’s Vaccine Advisory Panel in ‘Clean Sweep’
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., as HHS Secretary, has removed all 17 members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).
The move is described as a 'clean sweep' to 're-establish public confidence' in vaccine science.
Kennedy stated that the panel had become a 'rubber stamp for industry profit-taking agendas' and cited persistent conflicts of interest among members.
Most of the outgoing panelists were appointed by the Biden administration in 2024, with terms ending in 2028.
Kennedy has not yet named any replacements, but intends to appoint new members who will prioritize public health and evidence-based medicine.
ACIP is responsible for making vaccine recommendations to the CDC, which are rarely overruled.
The move is seen as unprecedented and raises concerns about the future direction of U.S. vaccine policy, given Kennedy’s history as a vaccine skeptic.