A Republican senator, who leads the committee on health issues, has openly criticized the vaccine committee appointed by Health and Human Services Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
On September 18, Sen. Bill Cassidy, head of the Senate’s Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, expressed worries about the “lack of a scientific process” related to the upcoming Advisory Committee on Vaccination Practices (ACIP) meeting. (Related: Officials reportedly dismissed after complicated changes to mRNA vaccine policy)
“With the ACIP meeting now scheduled for September, serious accusations have been made regarding the agenda, the committee’s membership, and the absence of a scientific approach,” Cassidy stated. “These choices directly affect children’s health, and decisions should not proceed until thorough oversight has been performed. If the meeting continues, recommendations made should be viewed as lacking legitimacy given the gravity of the concerns surrounding CDC leadership and the current chaos.”
HHS has not yet responded to requests for further information.
ACIP consists of external experts who evaluate epidemiological studies, weighing the advantages and side effects highlighted in clinical trials. They make recommendations to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding vaccination schedules for both kids and adults. They also determine which vaccines will be covered by health plans. The meeting is open to the public.
In June, Kennedy Jr. initiated a “clean sweep” of the committee, removing all 17 existing members.
Requests from Cassidy for clarification on the alleged shortcomings of the scientific process were not quickly addressed. The ACIP is permitted to have up to 19 members, yet the current roster includes only seven, according to the CDC website.
When Kennedy dismissed a previous ACIP member, he referenced the importance of replacing members appointed during the Trump administration, suggesting that those four-year-term appointees might continue to influence the committee. He also highlighted that committee members often have connections to the pharmaceutical industry.
Cassidy, who favored Kennedy’s appointment following a contentious confirmation process, noted that Kennedy had assured he wouldn’t alter ACIP to secure his vote. However, Cassidy’s statement did not clarify who had made the “serious allegation” against Kennedy’s management of ACIP.
This announcement comes on the heels of a notable confrontation between Kennedy and CDC Director Susan Monares, with the actual cause remaining unclear.
Robert Besser, CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and a former acting CDC director, mentioned to various media outlets that the disagreement could limit Monares’ influence over ACIP decisions.
Typically, CDC directors align with ACIP’s recommendations, but that can change, as seen when former CDC Director Rochelle Walensky rejected ACIP’s recommendation for COVID-19 booster shots for healthy adults in the fall of 2021.
Monares’ attorney did not disclose specifics about the conflict between her and Kennedy.
In a resignation letter published recently, Demetre Daskalakis, the former director of the CDC National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, noted that his exit was influenced by alterations to recommendations on COVID-19 vaccines and shifts regarding children’s vaccinations. Daskalakis remarked that the CDC had not been privy to the committee’s reconfiguration before Kennedy made an announcement via social media.
