New Members Appointed to National Vaccine Panel
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., head of the Health and Human Services Department, announced on Wednesday that he had dismissed all 17 members of the national vaccine panel. In a post on X, he stated that his goal is to “restore public confidence in the vaccine” by restructuring the Vaccination Practices Advisory Committee (ACIP).
“I have retired the current committee members and will now introduce eight new members who will attend the ACIP meeting on June 25,” Kennedy explained. “This new slate includes highly qualified scientists, public health experts, and experienced physicians. They are all committed to evidence-based medicine.”
The newly appointed members are Joseph R. Hibel, Martin Kulldorff, Retsef Levi, Robert W. Malone, Cody Meissner, James Pagano, Vicky Pebsworth, and Michael A. Ross. Kennedy emphasized that each of them is dedicated to demanding critical safety and efficacy data before making new vaccine recommendations, indicating the committee’s focus will include reviewing current vaccination schedules.
Calls for Placebo Testing on New Vaccines
Kulldorff, among the new selections, is known for co-authoring the Great Barrington Declaration in 2020, which advocated for a quicker end to lockdowns while allowing COVID-19 to circulate among the young and healthy to establish herd immunity. This idea faced substantial backlash from health officials, including Dr. Anthony Fauci.
Before naming the new panel, Kennedy remarked, “I’m choosing great people for the ACIP panel—not anti-vaxxers, but qualified scientists.” He noted that all 17 members were dismissed to facilitate this new approach. The agenda for the June meeting remains unspecified, but federal notices hint that there could be votes related to vaccinations for influenza, COVID-19, and others.
Typically, ACIP members serve four-year terms, but there were delays during the previous administration. Usually, voting members have scientific or clinical expertise in vaccinations, with one consumer representative included to offer community insights. Established in 1964, the committee makes recommendations to the CDC.
Kennedy provided profiles of the new appointees. Hibel, a psychiatrist and neuroscientist, has a history in clinical research and public health policies, particularly focusing on maternal and child health through substantial peer-reviewed works.
Restoring Public Trust in Vaccination
Kulldorff, a former Harvard epidemiologist, has been influential in vaccine safety discussions, notably working with CDC and other health organizations to monitor vaccine safety.
Levi, a professor at MIT, specializes in vaccine safety and risk management, including participating in studies related to mRNA vaccines and their cardiovascular implications. His contributions are ongoing in debates about public health policies.
Malone has a background in mRNA vaccine technology and early research that has helped shape current therapies. His expertise extends into molecular biology and immunology.
Meissner, a pediatrics professor, has advised both the CDC and the FDA and is an authority on pediatric infectious diseases and vaccinations.
Pagano, an emergency physician with decades of experience, is noted for advocating evidence-based medical practices.
Pebsworth, with a long career in healthcare, has focused on public health policy, including vaccine safety, and has played leadership roles in various nursing associations.
Lastly, Ross has worked on cancer prevention strategies, including HPV vaccination, and has contributed to significant research in immunology and public health policy.
