Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Monday dismissed all 17 members of a US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) vaccine advisory panel due to alleged conflicts of interest. Kennedy’s actions further fuel his long-standing opposition to vaccines. However, scientists have spoken out against the political interference in public health policy.
Scientists and experts are fretting over Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ‘s latest decision to dismiss all the members of a vaccine advisory panel of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The 17 dismissed members were accused by Kennedy of having unlawful conflicts of interest that called into question their credibility.
The government’s decision is the latest in a string of moves by Kennedy and the administration to reassert dominance over public health bodies like the CDC, which are supposed to operate independently. Scientists and health experts have publicly decried Kennedy’s move as “politically motivated,” arguing that such actions could undermine public trust in public health institutions and have a negative impact on public health outcomes.
