Overview

• Robert F. Kennedy Jr., recently confirmed as Secretary of Health and Human Services, is reportedly preparing to replace members of key vaccine advisory committees.
• Critics, including senators who supported his confirmation, claim these actions contradict assurances Kennedy made to maintain the current vaccine approval system.
• The planned changes target panels like the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which plays a central role in shaping U.S. vaccine policy.
• Senators Bill Cassidy and Lisa Murkowski, who backed Kennedy's confirmation, cited his commitments to evidence-based vaccine policies as crucial to their support.
• Public health experts warn that Kennedy’s actions could undermine vaccination programs, with some calling his approach a threat to public health.