Kennedy Replaces CDC Vaccine Panel With Skeptics

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dismissed all 17 members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and replaced them with eight individuals, including vaccine skeptics Robert Malone and Retsef Levi, without the usual vetting process. Several of the new appointees have promoted vaccine skepticism or misinformation. The move has led the CDC to end its recommendation for COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children and pregnant women, despite strong scientific support for these vaccines. Public health experts and former officials have sharply criticized the decision, warning it could undermine public trust, restrict vaccine access, and jeopardize insurance coverage for essential immunizations. Some studies cited to justify policy changes have been mischaracterized, fueling further concern about evidence-based decision-making. The overhaul has sparked fears of increased outbreaks, preventable deaths, and uncertainty about the continued availability of free or subsidized vaccines.