Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Monday announced a “clean sweep” of the committee that advises on the childhood vaccination schedule.
All 17 sitting committee members have been removed, according to a statement from the HHS.
“Today we are prioritizing the restoration of public trust above any specific pro- or anti-vaccine agenda,” Kennedy said in a statement. “The public must know that unbiased science—evaluated through a transparent process and insulated from conflicts of interest—guides the recommendations of our health agencies.”
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is made up of outside scientists who discuss epidemiological studies, weigh the benefits and side effects reported in clinical trials and make recommendations to the CDC on the routine vaccination schedules for children and adults. Meetings are open to the public.
The ACIP’s recommendations inform which shots are reimbursed by health plans.
The ACIP became a flashpoint for controversy during the COVID-19 pandemic, reenergizing concerns about payments that advisors receive from the drugmakers the panel oversees. HHS in March announced a new tool that allows users to search which advisors reported potential conflicts of interest with the pharmaceutical industry.
Instead, the press release raises concerns about the entirety of the ACIP having been appointed by the Biden administration. Without the shakeup, the committee would not have been comprised of Trump appointees until 2028, according to HHS.
ACIP members are selected by the HHS secretary and can serve for up to four years, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.
The next ACIP meeting is scheduled to occur from June 25 to June 27. It’s not clear whether the committee will discuss a recently-released Food and Drug Administration framework for COVID-19 booster shots requiring new clinical trials to support their use in people without comorbid conditions, putting them at risk of severe disease or death.
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