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yesterday

Kennedy Removes CDC Vaccine Panel, Taps Vaccine Skeptics

Critics say the move could undermine vaccine guidance, fueling hesitancy as measles cases surge nationwide.

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A general view of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia September 30, 2014. REUTERS/Tami Chappell/File Photo
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Overview

  • On June 9, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dismissed all 17 members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and appointed eight new members with vaccine-skeptical views.
  • Appointees such as Vicky Pebsworth and Robert Malone have documented histories of anti-vaccine activism and public statements questioning the safety and efficacy of vaccines.
  • The HHS biography for Michael Ross misrepresented his credentials by listing teaching roles at George Washington University and Virginia Commonwealth University that both institutions deny.
  • The CDC reports nearly 1,200 measles cases in 34 states so far in 2025, and MMR vaccination coverage among kindergarteners remains below the 95 percent threshold.
  • Health officials and congressional doctors warn the panel overhaul could erode public trust in immunization recommendations and complicate vaccination policies for the upcoming school year.