Introduction to the Controversy
Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., on Monday criticized Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s picks for a key federal vaccine advisory committee and called for the group’s next meeting to be delayed until more members with relevant expertise can be appointed.
Background on the Vaccine Advisory Committee
Kennedy abruptly fired all 17 members of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices this month and replaced them with eight new members, including known vaccine skeptics. That group is scheduled to meet for the first time Wednesday and Thursday.
Concerns Expressed by Senator Cassidy
Cassidy, a medical doctor who is the chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, was a key vote in Kennedy’s confirmation. He said he voted for Kennedy after Kennedy made a number of commitments, including not to make changes to ACIP, a highly influential panel that makes vaccine recommendations and shapes the childhood vaccination schedule.
Lack of Relevant Expertise
Cassidy expressed concerns Monday on X about the newly appointed members. “Although the appointees to ACIP have scientific credentials, many do not have significant experience studying microbiology, epidemiology or immunology. In particular, some lack experience studying new technologies such as mRNA vaccines, and may even have a preconceived bias against them,” Cassidy wrote.
Call for Delaying the Meeting
“Wednesday’s meeting should not proceed with a relatively small panel, and no CDC Director in place to approve the panel’s recommendations. The meeting should be delayed until the panel is fully staffed with more robust and balanced representation—as required by law—including those with more direct relevant expertise,” he continued.
Current State of the CDC and Vaccine Recommendations
Susan Monarez, President Donald Trump’s pick for CDC director, will have her Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday. Without a CDC director, Kennedy has signed off on some ACIP recommendations. And last month, without input from ACIP, he announced that the Covid vaccine would no longer be recommended for healthy children and pregnant women.
Response from the Department of Health and Human Services
The Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the CDC, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon previously defended Kennedy’s ACIP picks, saying in a statement that the new panel “includes highly credentialed scientists, leading public-health experts, and some of America’s most accomplished physicians. All of these individuals are committed to evidence-based medicine, gold-standard science, and common sense.”
Agenda for the Upcoming ACIP Meeting
A draft agenda for this week’s ACIP meeting includes a discussion and a vote on flu vaccines that contain thimerosal, a form of mercury that had been used as a preservative in some vaccines. Kennedy has long espoused the debunked claim that there is a link between thimerosal and autism.
Thimerosal in Vaccines
Since 2001, nearly all vaccines made in the United States contain no thimerosal or only trace amounts. Only multi-dose flu shot vials still contain the preservative. Most flu shots now come in single-shot packaging.
Conclusion
The controversy surrounding Kennedy’s new vaccine panel highlights the importance of ensuring that advisory committees are comprised of experts with relevant experience and expertise. Delaying the meeting until the panel is fully staffed with more robust and balanced representation is crucial to maintaining public trust in vaccine recommendations.
FAQs
- Q: Who is Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and what is his role in the controversy?
A: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is the Health and Human Services Secretary who has been criticized for his picks for the federal vaccine advisory committee. - Q: What is the ACIP and why is it important?
A: The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is a highly influential panel that makes vaccine recommendations and shapes the childhood vaccination schedule. - Q: What are the concerns about the new members of the ACIP?
A: The concerns include the lack of significant experience studying microbiology, epidemiology, or immunology, and potential preconceived biases against certain vaccines. - Q: What is thimerosal and why is it controversial?
A: Thimerosal is a form of mercury that was used as a preservative in some vaccines. Despite the debunked claim of a link between thimerosal and autism, it remains a topic of discussion and controversy.
