RFK Jr. adding vaccine opponents to his new advisory committee
The US Health Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has stirred controversy by proposing changes to the Centers for Disease Control's (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Kennedy plans to add seven new members to the panel, a move that has raised concerns among public health experts and lawmakers.
The ACIP, an independent adviser to the CDC, plays a crucial role in steering vaccine policy and insurance coverage for jabs. Its recommendations have been instrumental in shaping the nation's vaccination strategy, including the COVID-19 vaccination programme.
However, Kennedy's proposed additions have raised eyebrows due to the questionable backgrounds of some of the potential new members. For instance, Joseph Fraiman, an emergency medicine specialist in New Orleans, has authored papers claiming the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines caused more serious adverse effects than commonly believed.
Another controversial figure on the list is Kirk Milhoan, a pediatric cardiologist who has attacked the COVID-19 vaccines and testified in a 2024 congressional hearing hosted by Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.
Several members of Congress have called for the ACIP meeting to be delayed, citing concerns about the vetting and disclosure process for the new members, and its potential impact on vaccine policy more broadly.
The controversy deepened when it was revealed that several of Kennedy's current ACIP members have received money from testifying in vaccine-related lawsuits. During a Senate Finance Committee hearing, Senator Bill Cassidy noted this issue, accusing Kennedy of disrupting access to vaccines through his actions as health secretary, an accusation Kennedy denied.
Notably, Kennedy fired all 17 ACIP members in June and installed his own picks, causing further concern. One of the dismissed members, Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, was reportedly barred from further participation on the Food and Drug Administration's Vaccines and Related Biologics Products Advisory Committee.
It's unclear whether the people on the possible additions list will be part of the ACIP meeting later this month. The meeting is expected to discuss and potentially offer recommendations on the COVID-19 vaccines, hepatitis B vaccine, and the measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) vaccine.
The developments have sparked a heated debate, with some arguing that Kennedy's actions threaten the integrity of the vaccine advisory process, while others maintain that a fresh perspective is needed to address vaccine-related concerns. The outcome of these changes remains to be seen.
Read also:
- Tobacco industry's suggested changes on a legislative modification are disregarded by health journalists
- Trump's Policies: Tariffs, AI, Surveillance, and Possible Martial Law
- Uncovering Political Ad Transparency: A Guide to Investigating opponent's Political Advertisements in the Digital Realm
- Elon Musk praises JD Vance's debate performance against Tim Walz
