Overview

• HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has mandated placebo-controlled trials for all new and updated vaccines, a departure from standard practices for routine updates.
• Experts argue the policy is unethical when effective vaccines exist and could delay critical immunizations like flu shots and COVID-19 boosters.
• HHS defends the mandate, stating that older trials no longer reflect current populations with widespread natural immunity.
• Critics warn the requirement may discourage pharmaceutical companies from investing in vaccine development, potentially weakening public health efforts.
• In response, leading scientists and ethicists have formed the Vaccine Integrity Project to combat misinformation and protect vaccine access.