The Department of Health withdrew a controversial CDC vaccine advisory committee charter that would have allowed Health Secretary RFK Jr. to appoint anti-vaccine allies and shift the panel's focus toward vaccine skepticism. The move comes after Kennedy had previously fired all 17 ACIP experts, replacing them with unqualified individuals who removed evidence-based vaccine recommendations, including the universal hepatitis B birth dose, which modeling shows could lead to increased infections, cancers, and deaths. This withdrawal represents a significant reversal of Kennedy's attempts to undermine public health policy.
Background
The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is a key federal body that develops recommendations on vaccine use in the United States. RFK Jr., a prominent anti-vaccine activist, was appointed as Health Secretary and has made multiple attempts to reshape federal vaccine policy.
- Source
- Ars Technica
- Published
- May 20, 2026 at 02:17 AM
- Score
- 8.0 / 10