Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Monday that he would withdraw all 17 members of a committee Offers recommendations about vaccines at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Writing The Wall Street MagazineThe secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said that the relocation was aimed at restoring the public trust above every pro or antivaccin agenda. ”
The removal of the experts marks the latest action that Kennedy, one of the most notorious skeptics in America, is to radically change the immunization policy of the country.
“Today we are taking a daring step in repairing the trust of the public by fully recovering the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP). We retire the 17 current members of the committee, of which some of whom were last-minute in the Biden-Administration,” Kennedy wrote in the column. “Without removing the current members, the current Trump administration could not appoint a majority of new members until 2028.”
This is what you need to know about the move.
What is the advisory committee for immunization practices?
ACIP is “a federal advisory committee that develops recommendations about the use of vaccines in the civilian population of the United States” CDC.
Membership consists of medical and public health experts who are aware of immunization and vaccines and do not work for government or vaccine manufacturers, according to the non -profit organization of health policy Kff. They are chosen by the HHS secretary to serve in the panel for a maximum of four years.
The committee has a major influence on the country’s immunization policy: the CDC sets the immunization schedules for adults and children based on the ACIP recommendations.
Why did RFK Jr. All committee members retired?
Kennedy accused the committee of “being plagued by persistent conflicts of interest.”
“The public must know that unbiased science guides the recommendations of our health agencies,” he wrote. “This ensures that the American people receive the safest vaccines.”
Acip -members are thoroughly screened For important conflicts.
Kennedy has a long history of spreading vaccine skepticism and other medical disinformation, including repeating the disadvantaged claim that vaccines cause autism, despite overwhelming research that proves that vaccines are both safe and effective. During his confirmation hearings, he said he is not a “anti-vaccine”, but “pro-security”. He earlier said That he and the Trump administration would not remove vaccines from the market.
Read more: RFK Jr. denied that he is an anti-vaccine during his confirmation hearing. Here’s his record
Earlier this year, the expert committee of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was informed for vaccines that their upcoming meeting to decide to decide which flu strains had to be included in the next flu port. Last month FDA officials said that they will not recommend annual COVID-19 vaccines for children and most adults.
How do the experts in the field of public health respond to the news?
Experts in public health immediately denounced the move. Dr. Bruce Scott, the president of the American Medical Association, said in a press release that ACIP for generations has been a trusted national source of science and data-driven advice and guidance on the use of vaccines to prevent and control diseases. “
“Doctors, parents, community leaders and public health officials rely on them for clinical guidance, information about public health and knowledge,” said Scott. “Today’s action to remove the 17 sitting members of ACIP, undermines that trust and increases a transparent process that has saved countless lives. With a running outbreak of measles and routine children’s vaccination rates, this step will further feed the distribution of vaccin-in-brackish diseases.”
The nomination and confirmation of Kennedy to run the leading health agency of the nation led to controversy and indignation among many public health experts because of its history of promoting skepticism and medical disinformation.
What happens afterwards?
Said hhs in one press release That the committee members are being replaced “with new members who are currently being considered”, but offered no further details. ACIP will then meet according to the department from 25 June to 27 June.
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