"Kennedy said the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, a group of experts who recommend vaccines, has been "plagued with persistent conflicts of interest.""
"Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Monday he was removing the entire membership of the influential vaccine advisory panel that makes immunization recommendations for the United States, an unprecedented move by Kennedy and escalation of his overhaul of federal vaccination policy.
In an op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal, Kennedy said he decided to retire the 17 independent vaccine experts from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices because the panel has been “plagued with persistent conflicts of interest” and has become a “rubber stamp” for vaccines. Doctors and pharmacists look to the committee’s recommendations to decide which shots to offer.
Kennedy has long criticized the panel, which makes vaccine recommendations to the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. When the recommendations are approved by the director, they become official public health guidance and are required to be covered by insurance plans at no cost to consumers."
Lena H. Sun and Lauren Weber report for the Washington Post June 9, 2025.
SEE ALSO:
"RFK Jr. Ousts Entire CDC Vaccine Advisory Committee" (AP)
"RFK Jr. Boots All Members Of The CDC's Vaccine Advisory Committee" (NPR)
Opinion: "RFK Jr.: HHS Moves to Restore Public Trust in Vaccines" (Wall St. Journal)
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