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- 17 ousted vaccine experts warn scientific rigor is eroding under President Trump Jr.’s new panel
- New members include vaccine skeptics, raising concerns about policy shifts
- First meeting featured anti-vaccine rhetoric and delayed decisions
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Essential Context
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. replaced all 17 members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) in June 2025, citing conflicts of interest. The new panel’s first meeting revealed significant departures from traditional scientific approaches, with discussions about reevaluating vaccine schedules and exemptions.
Core Players
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. – HHS Secretary, vaccine safety advocate
- Martin Kulldorff – New ACIP chair, epidemiologist
- Ousted ACIP members – 17 experts removed June 9
- American Academy of Pediatrics – Boycotted proceedings
- CDC – Agency overseeing vaccine recommendations
Key Numbers
- 17 – Ousted ACIP members
- 8 – New appointees (1 withdrew during review)
- June 9 – Date of panel dismissal
- June 26 – First meeting with anti-vaccine rhetoric
- 7 – Remaining members after withdrawal
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The Catalyst
Kennedy dismissed the entire ACIP panel June 9, claiming conflicts of interest and “rubber-stamping” of vaccines. He appointed replacements with backgrounds in vaccine skepticism, sparking immediate backlash from medical organizations.
Inside Forces
New members include researchers who have questioned vaccine safety and efficacy. The panel’s first meeting focused on creating subgroups to study “cumulative effects” of vaccines and review shots not assessed in seven years, including hepatitis B for newborns and MMR timing.
Power Dynamics
The shift marks a departure from ACIP’s traditional evidence-based approach. Kennedy’s panel now prioritizes vaccine safety concerns over established protocols, with discussions about religious exemptions for MMR vaccines.
Outside Impact
Public health experts warn this could undermine trust in vaccines and lead to policy changes affecting insurance coverage and physician recommendations. The American Academy of Pediatrics boycotted the proceedings, calling the new panel “unpredictable.”
Future Forces
Key areas under review:
- Hepatitis B vaccine for newborns
- MMR vaccine timing and exemptions
- Vaccine schedules for children/adolescents
- Shots not reviewed in 7+ years
Data Points
- June 9, 2025 – ACIP panel dismissed
- June 12 – New members announced
- June 26 – First meeting with anti-vaccine rhetoric
- 7 – Remaining panel members after withdrawal
- 17 – Ousted experts
The controversy highlights growing tensions between vaccine safety advocates and public health institutions. While Kennedy claims the changes aim to restore trust, critics argue they risk eroding decades of scientific consensus on immunization policies.
