RFK Jr. Names 8 New ACIP Members, Replacing Prior Committee Before Key Vaccine Votes

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the HHS Secretary, has removed all 17 Biden-appointed ACIP (Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices) members and appointed 8 new members13.

The new members include Joseph R. Hibbeln, Martin Kulldorff, Retsef Levi, Robert W. Malone, Cody Meissner, James Pagano, Vicky Pebsworth, and Michael A. Ross1.

Several new appointees are publicly critical of COVID-19 and mRNA vaccines, raising concerns among medical organizations about their expertise and objectivity1.

RFK Jr. cited a need to ‘restore public trust’ in vaccine science, suggesting previous committee members had conflicts of interest with pharmaceutical companies23.

The American Medical Association and other medical groups expressed deep concern, citing lack of transparency in the selection process and fears that public confidence in vaccine recommendations could be undermined1.

ACIP, which issues official U.S. vaccine recommendations, is scheduled to soon vote on guidelines for COVID-19, measles, HPV, influenza, meningitis, and RSV vaccines1.

Recent changes under RFK Jr. led to the removal of CDC recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines in healthy children and pregnant women, a move criticized by the American Pharmacists Association as inconsistent with scientific evidence2.

Sources:

1. https://www.vaccineadvisor.com/news/rfk-jr-selects-8-new-members-for-cdcs-vaccine-advisory-panel/

2. https://www.clinicaltrialsarena.com/news/rfk-jr-axes-vaccine-advisory-committee-members/

3. https://www.hhs.gov/press-room/hhs-restore-public-trust-vaccines-acip.html