Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently introduced new members to the key vaccine advisory committee, shortly after dismissing all existing members in what he described as a “clean sweep.”
The eight new voting members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Vaccination Practices (ACIP) mark a significant reduction from the previous 17 members.
Kennedy shared on X that the new committee will convene on June 25th to discuss the COVID-19 vaccine and assess the safety and efficacy of the current vaccination schedule.
“The slate includes highly qualified scientists, leading public health experts, and some of America’s most skilled physicians. They all focus on evidence-based medicine, the science of gold standards, and common sense,” he noted.
The eight new ACIP members are:
- Joseph R. Hibel, a psychiatrist and neuroscientist known for his work in nutritional neuroscience at the National Institutes of Health.
- Martin Kulldorff, a former epidemiologist associated with Harvard Medical School.
- Retsef Levi, a professor specializing in operational management at the MIT Sloan Management School.
- Robert W. Malone, a biochemist involved in early mRNA vaccine research.
- Cody Meissner, a pediatrics professor at the Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College.
- James Pagano, an emergency medical doctor.
- Vicky Pebsworth, the Pacific Regional Director of the National Association of Catholic Nurses, who previously served on the FDA’s vaccine-related advisory committee.
- Michael A. Ross, a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at George Washington University and Virginia Commonwealth University.
Kennedy stated that none of the new ACIP members are “ideological anti-vaxxers,” though some have garnered attention for their opposition to COVID-19 measures, often spreading vaccine misinformation.
Malone claims to be the inventor of mRNA vaccines, a assertion that has been challenged by colleagues. He has gained a foothold in conservative media during the pandemic, advocating for treatments like hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin, and often questioning the effectiveness of COVID vaccines.
Kulldorff was a co-author of the Great Barrington Declaration alongside current NIH director Jay Bhattacharya.
On Monday, Kennedy terminated all 17 ACIP members, arguing that such a “clean sweep” was necessary to restore public trust in vaccine science.
ACIP is an independent expert panel that advises on vaccine recommendations. The abrupt firing of all members this week raised alarms and sparked concerns from various groups, including the American Nurse Association, which suggested it might further undermine public confidence in vaccines.
This decision also clashed with assurances Kennedy had previously given to Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.) about maintaining stability within ACIP.
