Shortly before a meeting of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s vaccine advisors to discuss who’s eligible for COVID vaccines this season, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has appointed five new members to a committee he previously reshaped by removing Biden administration appointees in June.
The newly added members of the significant Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices include:
- Hilary Blackburn, a pharmacist at AscensionRx and podcast host,
- Dr. Kirk Milhoan, a pediatric cardiologist associated with the Independent Medical Alliance,
- Dr. Evelyn Griffin, an ob/gyn and practitioner of functional medicine,
- Dr. Raymond Pollak, a semi-retired transplant surgeon, and
- Catherine Stein, an epidemiology professor at Case Western Reserve University, who has previously claimed that the government exaggerated COVID risks.
In a media statement, Jim O’Neill, Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services and Acting CDC Director, remarked, “The new ACIP members bring a wealth of real-world public health experience to the job of making immunization recommendations. We are grateful for their service in helping restore public confidence in vaccines that was lost during the Biden era.”
The advisory committee now has twelve members. It makes recommendations that can influence which vaccines are offered for free through the Vaccines for Children program and what health insurers typically cover, impacting state and local vaccine mandates.
These appointments come just as the committee convenes this week in Atlanta. They will discuss policies regarding the fall COVID-19 booster shots and whether hepatitis B vaccines should be administered to all newborns.
New members information leaked in early September
The names of the new members were part of a list first reported by the “Inside Medicine” newsletter on September 3. Notably, two others from that list—Dr. Joseph Fraiman, an emergency physician, and Dr. John Gaitanis, a pediatric neurologist—were not appointed.
While reaching out to the new members earlier in the month, NPR only received a response from Dr. Pollak, who was still undergoing the vetting process at that time. “I think I’d be an ideal choice for a committee like this,” he said. “I have expertise in clinical trial management and ethics, and my background in transplant biology allows me to understand the science of what is being proposed.”
Pollak mentioned that he hadn’t followed ACIP closely before joining but sees value in having a diverse panel, including members who may not have traditional vaccine expertise. He classified COVID vaccines as “safe to administer,” arguing they significantly reduced the severity of illness and lowered hospitalization rates. However, he also noted that the vaccine rollout had been poorly managed, leading to public confusion and conspiracy theories about the government hiding vaccine-related harms. “The idea that there was a government cover-up is untrue,” he explained. “All data on adverse effects is widely available in medical literature, but it doesn’t always reach the public.”
Kennedy’s influence on the vaccine panel grows
The new appointees join seven others handpicked by Kennedy in June after he dismissed all previous members. This newly formed panel includes Dr. Robert Malone, known for spreading misinformation about COVID and opposing vaccine mandates, and Retsef Levi, who gained attention during the pandemic for his criticisms of COVID vaccines.
The previous members were chosen for their medical expertise and familiarity with vaccine policy, having been vetted to prevent direct financial conflicts of interest with ACIP votes. They had served over several years, ensuring continuity of knowledge and processes.
Since Kennedy’s overhaul, ACIP’s operations have drastically changed. For instance, they voted to restrict flu vaccines containing the mercury-based preservative thimerosal in their June meeting based on debunked claims lacking scientific backing. This action has led many medical organizations and public health groups to question the credibility of the committee’s recommendations.
“Misinformation, politicization of public health efforts, and sudden changes to federal vaccine guidance are causing mass confusion and eroding trust in public health,” noted leaders from five medical groups in a June op-ed. With flu, COVID-19, RSV, and the resurgence of diseases like measles on the horizon, they emphasized the critical nature of accurate policies.
Some state vaccine laws hinge on ACIP advice. States led by Democratic governors are beginning to lessen their reliance on the committee, apprehensive that future recommendations may stem from “ideology and not science,” as stated by Dennis Worsham from the Washington State Department of Health.
