RFK Jr. forced to withdraw charter that opened CDC panel to anti-vaccine quacks
Summary
The U.S. Health Department withdrew a revised charter for a CDC vaccine advisory panel after it failed to meet federal public notice rules. The charter, pushed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., would have allowed anti-vaccine allies to join the advisory committee and influence vaccine policies. A court had previously blocked Kennedy’s changes to the CDC vaccine panel and schedule due to lack of qualifications and regulatory violations.Key Facts
- The Health Department pulled a new charter for the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel (ACIP) due to not following public notification rules.
- Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wanted to appoint anti-vaccine allies to the advisory panel.
- The revised charter aimed to focus on alleged vaccine injuries and include fringe groups in federal vaccine policy decisions.
- In June 2025, Kennedy fired all 17 expert members of ACIP and replaced them with unqualified anti-vaccine supporters.
- The new ACIP removed long-standing, evidence-based vaccine recommendations, including a universal hepatitis B vaccine dose at birth.
- Studies showed that removing the hepatitis B birth dose would likely increase infections, cancers, deaths, and healthcare costs.
- In January, Kennedy reduced the childhood vaccine schedule from 17 vaccines to 11 without using ACIP’s advice.
- A federal judge blocked Kennedy’s vaccine changes and ruled new ACIP members were unqualified, nullifying their decisions.
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