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RFK Jr. installs new ACIP panel after purge

June 12, 2025

Two days after dismissing all 17 members of CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has appointed eight new members to the influential panel. The new slate includes figures known for their skepticism of COVID-19 vaccines and public health interventions, such as Dr. Robert Malone and Dr. Martin Kulldorff. In a post on X, Kennedy described the appointees as “highly credentialed” and committed to “evidence-based medicine,” but their inclusion has sparked concern among medical associations about the politicization of vaccine policy. The revamped committee is expected to meet on June 25 to begin reviewing the current immunization schedule. Critics warn that the shift could undermine public confidence in vaccines and disrupt long-standing, evidence-driven immunization practices.

Sources:

Kennedy, Robert F. Jr. (@seckennedy). “Today I appointed eight new members to the vaccine advisory panel to ensure transparency and public trust.” X (formerly Twitter), 10 June 2025, https://x.com/seckennedy/status/1932899858920120692.

Stone, W et al. (2025, June 11). NPR. RFK Jr. names new slate of vaccine advisers after purging CDC panel. https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/06/11/nx-s1-5430870/cdc-vaccine-experts-rfk-jr

Bendix, A et al. (2025, June 11). NBC News. RFK Jr. taps eight new members for CDC’s vaccine advisory panel. https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/rfk-jr-cdc-acip-vaccine-panel-eight-new-members-rcna212477