Introduction to the CDC’s Vaccine Advisory Panel
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has tapped eight new members to join the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s independent vaccine advisory committee, just two days after firing the previous slate. The new members include well-known vaccine skeptics and others who have been critical of Covid vaccines or pandemic interventions like lockdowns.
The New Members
Kennedy said Wednesday on X that the members would convene on June 25 for a scheduled meeting. He referred to them as "highly credentialed scientists, leading public-health experts, and some of America’s most accomplished physicians." The list includes Dr. Robert Malone, an anti-vaccine activist who suggested earlier this year, without evidence, that recent pediatric deaths from measles were due to medical error and Vicky Pebsworth, director of research and patient safety at the National Vaccine Information Center, considered a leading source of misinformation about vaccines.
The Appointment Process
Historically, members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, known more commonly as ACIP, have undergone an extensive vetting process before they were appointed. The panel typically consists of 15 or more members, meaning the meeting in two weeks would be about half the normal size. It was not clear if Kennedy intended to appoint additional members.
The Role of the ACIP
The ACIP is normally comprised of pediatricians, geriatricians and other vaccine experts. The group Kennedy selected includes a psychiatrist, epidemiologist and professor of operations management. One newly appointed member, pediatrics professor Dr. Cody Meissner, previously served on ACIP from 2008 to 2012. The group is meant to analyze the latest data on the safety and efficacy of vaccines, including newly approved inoculations and new data about existing vaccines.
The Impact of the New Members
The panel offers recommendations to the CDC about who should get certain vaccines, including the schedule for childhood vaccinations. Several times a year the committee holds public meetings where data is presented and reviewed. While the CDC isn’t required to follow the advice, it often does. Advisory members are also required to disclose conflicts of interest, recusing themselves from voting on vaccines for which conflicts exist. It is not clear if Kennedy has required those disclosures for the new members.
Controversy Surrounding the Appointments
Kennedy said Monday in an editorial in The Wall Street Journal that the ACIP “has been plagued with persistent conflicts of interest and has become little more than a rubber stamp for any vaccine.” Members of the medical community have widely resisted that claim, saying there’s no evidence to support it.
Conclusion
The appointment of new members to the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel has sparked controversy and debate. The new members, including vaccine skeptics and critics of pandemic interventions, will convene on June 25 for a scheduled meeting. The panel’s role in analyzing data and making recommendations on vaccine safety and efficacy is crucial, and the impact of the new members on the committee’s decisions remains to be seen.
FAQs
Q: Who are the new members of the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel?
A: The new members include Dr. Robert Malone, Vicky Pebsworth, and pediatrics professor Dr. Cody Meissner, among others.
Q: What is the role of the ACIP?
A: The ACIP analyzes data on vaccine safety and efficacy and makes recommendations to the CDC on vaccine schedules and usage.
Q: Have the new members disclosed conflicts of interest?
A: It is not clear if Kennedy has required those disclosures for the new members.
Q: What has been the response to Kennedy’s claims about the ACIP?
A: Members of the medical community have widely resisted Kennedy’s claims, saying there’s no evidence to support them.
