Overview

• The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices advises the CDC on vaccine recommendations, including who is eligible for shots and whether insurers must cover them.
• Kennedy retired all 17 committee members in a move he described as a necessary “clean sweep” to rebuild confidence in vaccine guidance.
• In a Wall Street Journal op-ed he claimed persistent conflicts of interest had undermined the panel’s independence.
• ACIP members are required to disclose potential conflicts and a March CDC database detailed some panelists’ industry-funded research roles.
• The overhaul follows a series of vaccine policy changes by the known skeptic since he took charge of HHS.