Kennedy Ousts CDC Advisory Panel in Controversial Shakeup

[Social Media]

 

Vaccine Policy in Turmoil: Kennedy Ousts CDC Advisory Panel in Controversial Shakeup

 

In a move that has stunned the public health community, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the removal of all 17 members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) independent vaccine advisory committee. The decision, revealed Monday through an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal, is being widely criticized as a politically motivated attempt to undermine scientific consensus and vaccine policy in the United States.

 

Kennedy, a longtime figure in the anti-vaccine movement, claimed the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) was compromised. “The committee has been plagued with persistent conflicts of interest and has become little more than a rubber stamp for any vaccine,” he wrote. The ACIP, composed of leading medical and public health experts, advises the CDC on who should receive specific vaccines and helps determine immunization schedules. Members undergo rigorous vetting and are required to disclose any conflicts of interest, recusing themselves from decisions where appropriate.

 

Kennedy’s sweeping dismissal of the committee has provoked sharp backlash from experts who see the move as an ideological purge rather than a reform. “This is manufactured chaos,” said Dr. Sean O’Leary of the American Academy of Pediatrics. He called Kennedy’s allegations “deeply insulting to the many scientists who contribute countless hours to the process,” insisting that the committee “is, in fact, a model for the rest of the world.”

 

Dr. Mandy Cohen, former CDC director, warned that Kennedy’s unprecedented action “spreads confusion and casts doubt on transparent public health processes that protect Americans.” Echoing that sentiment, Dr. Richard Besser, former acting CDC director and president of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, said the decision “should erase any remaining doubt that he intends to impose his personal anti-vaccine agenda on the American people.” Besser cautioned that the dismantling of ACIP would “make it far more difficult for pediatricians and other providers to care for their patients,” who rely on ACIP’s guidance for vaccine recommendations.

 

Kennedy has not disclosed who will replace the dismissed members or when the positions will be filled. A Health and Human Services release confirmed the committee's next meeting is scheduled for June 25 to 27, but offered no further details. In his editorial, Kennedy justified the timing by noting that many members were appointed to four-year terms and would have remained in place until 2028. “Without removing the current members, the current Trump administration would not have been able to appoint a majority of new members until 2028,” he wrote.

 

Some Republican lawmakers, including Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, expressed concern over the abrupt overhaul. Cassidy noted that Kennedy had promised during confirmation hearings to maintain ACIP “without changes.” He stated Monday on X that he will “continue to talk with Kennedy to ensure ACIP is not filled up with people who know nothing about vaccines except suspicion.”

 

The policy shift comes amid a rise in vaccine-preventable illnesses across the country, including measles and whooping cough. Since last fall, 241 mostly unvaccinated children have died from flu-related complications — the highest number for a non-pandemic year since 2004. Experts fear the removal of ACIP may further erode public trust in vaccination guidance.

 

“To claim that you are doing this to restore faith in CDC is a special form of gaslighting,” said one CDC employee, speaking anonymously for fear of retaliation. An ACIP member, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said the decision could render the CDC irrelevant on vaccine policy. “The clear implication is that CDC will no longer be credible in the space of vaccination,” they said. “Insurers and other funding agencies will have to turn to the professional associations for recommendations about vaccines.”

 

Public health scholars argue that Kennedy’s real aim is to replace experienced scientists with individuals more aligned with the Trump administration’s agenda. Matt Motta, a health policy professor at Boston University, said the firings represent “an unequivocally clear attempt to break the promise” Kennedy made not to restrict vaccine access. “What I think Kennedy is doing here is attempting to replace career civil servants with scientific expertise with those who may be more amenable to his and the Trump administration’s agenda,” he said.

 

As vaccine confidence falters and infectious disease threats rise, Kennedy’s reshaping of national vaccine policy is drawing intense scrutiny — and raising profound questions about the future of public health governance in America.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from NBC News  2025-06-11

 

 

[Tug]

Hey why worry it will be great the brain worm says so!!who needs pesky science or research we can just wing it it will be great!!just wait till some bad actor introduces Ebola or something else!don't worry we have the bugeyed dude in charge of the FBI and mis Barbie and her 22 yo Ken in homeland security it will be great!!trust in the trump team ………..only the best……

[Chomper Higgot]

Lung cancer vaccine has just entered patient trials.

 

It’s bound to be expensive, perhaps not providing it to anti-vaxxers would be an effective way to support their right to believe garbage and save money on medical costs.

 

[Purdey]

During his Senate confirmation hearing for his appointment to head U.S. President Donald Trump's Department of Health and Human Services on Jan. 29, 2025, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. said: "All of my kids are vaccinated."

Your kids may die but his won't.

[SOTIRIOS]

Considering That Those Dismissed Reportedly Worked For/Represented The Drug Companies Wouldn't That Be A Reasonable Move (?)

[Jonnapat]

Is there one sane person in Trump's administration? If so please tell.

[VR333]

9 hours ago, Social Media said:

the removal of all 17 members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) independent vaccine advisory committee.

 

Will there be anyone left at Fox News once the replacement members are installed?

[JonnyF]

5 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

It’s bound to be expensive, perhaps not providing it to anti-vaxxers would be an effective way to support their right to believe garbage and save money on medical costs.

 

 

So essentially allow people to die if they not agree with you on certain issues?

 

This is great Chomps. You're really making progress in coming out with your true beliefs. Tell us more. 

[Chomper Higgot]

28 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

So essentially allow people to die if they not agree with you on certain issues?

 

This is great Chomps. You're really making progress in coming out with your true beliefs. Tell us more. 

No not at all.

 

Support their choice not to avoid a painful death.

 

Freedom to choose to suffer, only in this case they don’t get to become a vector for the disease they choose not to take steps to avoid.

 

 

 

 

[johng]

8 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Lung cancer vaccine has just entered patient trials.

 

Sounds like the plot to a great film   ohh  yeah it was.

 

[impulse]

If you accept that US citizens are his customers, and his customers have lost faith in the team and what it says, it's time for a new team.

 

Citizens are expressing their lack of confidence with their feet and with their healthcare decisions.  They need to rebuild their credibility.

 

[Fairynuff]

4 hours ago, SOTIRIOS said:

Considering That Those Dismissed Reportedly Worked For/Represented The Drug Companies Wouldn't That Be A Reasonable Move (?)

You’d have to believe JFK Jr 🙄

[Fairynuff]

3 hours ago, JonnyF said:

 

So essentially allow people to die if they not agree with you on certain issues?

 

This is great Chomps. You're really making progress in coming out with your true beliefs. Tell us more. 

They’re antivaxxers, they wouldn’t want it anyway. Did that simple fact pass you by?

[rudi49jr]

 

[chickenslegs]

13 hours ago, Social Media said:

Kennedy has not disclosed who will replace the dismissed members or when the positions will be filled.

 

If he's after expert advice, he could recruit some posters from our Covid-19 coronavirus sub-forum.

[Lacessit]

4 minutes ago, chickenslegs said:

 

If he's after expert advice, he could recruit some posters from our Covid-19 coronavirus sub-forum.

Red Phoenix stands out as a RFK candidate.

[dinsdale]

Those sacked will immediately get jobs in big pharma as reward for their good work pushing the experimental mRNA jabs through at lightning pace.

[JonnyF]

1 hour ago, Fairynuff said:

They’re antivaxxers, they wouldn’t want it anyway. Did that simple fact pass you by?

 

Freedom of choice, Fairy.

 

If they want it, fine.

 

If they don't want it, fine.

 

I guess you're too far down the leftist authoritarian big state rabbit hole to understand the concept of bodily autonomy. 

 

[JonnyF]

5 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Freedom to choose to suffer, only in this case they don’t get to become a vector for the disease they choose not to take steps to avoid.

 

How can they choose not to take steps to avoid it if you are proposing preventing them having it and "saving money on medical costs" on those who disagree with you.

 

11 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

It’s bound to be expensive, perhaps not providing it to anti-vaxxers would be an effective way to support their right to believe garbage and save money on medical costs.

 

What percentage of things to you propose they are in agreement with you on in order to be allowed to have the vaccine? Would Pro Palestine, Pro Trans, Pro mask, Pro Starmer be sufficient?

 

Perhaps we could start demanding patients declare their hatred of Trump before being allowed emergency medical treatment as well? That should thin out those awful people who disagree with you. 

[riclag]

29 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Freedom of choice, Fairy.

 

If they want it, fine.

 

If they don't want it, fine.

 

I guess you're too far down the leftist authoritarian big state rabbit hole to understand the concept of bodily autonomy. 

 

Well said

15 hours ago, Social Media said:

 

Kennedy’s sweeping dismissal of the committee has provoked sharp backlash from experts who see the move as an ideological purge rather than a reform

Its time to have a debate on the  ideology & the experts who oppose reform! MAHA.

 

[dutch boy]

6 hours ago, Jonnapat said:

Is there one sane person in Trump's administration? If so please tell.

No, not just one, but many, take a look:

[BeastOfBodmin]

12 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Lung cancer vaccine has just entered patient trials.

 

It’s bound to be expensive, perhaps not providing it to anti-vaxxers would be an effective way to support their right to believe garbage and save money on medical costs.

 

Anti-vaxxers would not want it, by definition.

[BeastOfBodmin]

5 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

...

Freedom to choose to suffer, only in this case they don’t get to become a vector for the disease they choose not to take steps to avoid.

Which versions of COVID-19 vaccine prevented transmission and of which variants?

 

As an aside, which versions immunised against COVID-19 - what was the success rate?

[blaze master]

1 hour ago, JonnyF said:

 

Freedom of choice, Fairy.

 

If they want it, fine.

 

If they don't want it, fine.

 

I guess you're too far down the leftist authoritarian big state rabbit hole to understand the concept of bodily autonomy. 

 

 

My body their choice.

[BeastOfBodmin]

My first thought was "I wonder if the outgoing APIC members have any conflicts of interest?"

 

Conflicts of Interest Disclosures of ACIP Members

 

The corrupt revolving door of vaccine bureaucrats is worse than you think - Daniel Horowitz, July 09, 2024

[Lacessit]

17 minutes ago, BeastOfBodmin said:

My first thought was "I wonder if the outgoing APIC members have any conflicts of interest?"

 

Conflicts of Interest Disclosures of ACIP Members

 

The corrupt revolving door of vaccine bureaucrats is worse than you think - Daniel Horowitz, July 09, 2024

The same Horowitz who supported the efficacy of the Pfizer vaccine?

 

You might do better wondering whether the incoming ACIP members have any qualifications, apart from loyalty to RFK.

[JonnyF]

11 hours ago, BeastOfBodmin said:

Anti-vaxxers would not want it, by definition.

 

Do you really think these "anti-vaxxers" oppose all vaccines in all circumstances?

 

Or do you think it might be a little more nuanced than that?