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2h ago

HHS Appoints Two OB-GYNs to CDC Vaccine Panel, Extending Kennedy’s Overhaul

The selections reflect Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s reshaping of vaccine policy, emphasizing pregnancy guidance with a stated push for “gold‑standard science.”

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 5: Members of the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) are seen during a meeting on December 5, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images)
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Overview

  • HHS named obstetricians Adam Urato and Kimberly Biss to the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices on Jan. 13.
  • The appointments continue a restructuring that began in June 2025 when Kennedy dismissed the prior ACIP members to rebuild the panel to bolster transparency and public trust.
  • ACIP advises the CDC on vaccine use and the U.S. immunization schedule, and its recommendations are widely used by insurers for coverage decisions.
  • Deputy HHS Secretary and Acting CDC Director Jim O’Neill said the committee is aligning childhood schedules with “gold‑standard science.”
  • Urato has criticized early CDC assurances on COVID‑19 shots in pregnancy and Biss has questioned vaccine safety and effectiveness, while earlier this month officials revised the childhood schedule to reduce universally recommended vaccines to roughly 11.