The US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, known for his skepticism towards vaccines, has dissolved the entire 17-member committee responsible for advising the government on immunization recommendations. In an editorial published in The Wall Street Journal, Kennedy cited conflicts of interest within the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (Acip) as the reason behind his decision, stating that these conflicts have eroded public trust in vaccinations. Kennedy also expressed his aim to “ensure the American people receive the safest vaccines possible,” despite previously stating during his Senate confirmation that he would not dismantle the committee.
On Monday, Kennedy announced the “retirement” of all Acip panel members, among whom eight were appointed in January 2022 during the final days of President Biden’s term. These members primarily comprised practicing doctors and experts affiliated with major university medical centers. Kennedy noted that without this removal, President Trump would not have been able to secure a majority on the panel until 2028.
According to Kennedy, the committee has been fraught with persistent conflicts of interest and acted mainly as a stamp of approval for vaccines. He accused health authorities and pharmaceutical companies of contributing to a “crisis of public trust” by attributing such a crisis to misinformation or anti-science sentiments, and provided examples from the 1990s and 2000s to support his claim. He also pointed out that most ACIP members have received considerable funding from pharmaceutical companies, including those that market vaccines.
This decision seems to contradict the assurances Kennedy provided during his confirmation hearings. Senator Bill Cassidy, a Republican from Louisiana and a doctor, stated that he had received commitments from Kennedy to maintain Acip “without changes.” In response to the news, Cassidy expressed fear that the committee might be filled with individuals who harbor vaccine suspicion rather than scientific expertise and has since communicated with Kennedy in an attempt to prevent this outcome.
Acip members are required to disclose any conflicts of interest, which are publicly available, and to abstain from voting on decisions where they may have such conflicts. Kennedy acknowledged that ACIP members generally serve the public interest but criticized their involvement in a system that perpetuates a narrow, industry-aligned orthodoxy.
The American Medical Association (AMA) condemned the mass dismissal as undermining a transparent process that has been credited with saving numerous lives. Dr. Bruce Scott, the AMA’s president, warned that the move would exasperate the spread of vaccine-preventable illnesses, especially amid ongoing measles outbreaks and declining child vaccination rates.
Kennedy has not yet revealed who will be appointed to replace the dissolved board members, casting uncertainty over future vaccine recommendations. The next Acip meeting is set for June 25, where members will vote on recommendations for vaccines covering Covid, flu, meningococcal disease, RSV, and other conditions. Comments from the US Department of Health and Human Services and the Acip chair, Dr. Helen Keipp Talbot, are currently pending.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyge27y2g9o
