United States Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has dismissed all members of the panel of vaccine experts from disease control and prevention centers and is reconstructing the committee, his department said on Monday.
Kennedy has removed all 17 members of the CDC immunization consultative committee, the Department of Health and Human Services in a statement said and is considering new members to replace them.
“Today we prioritize the restoration of public trust above any specific agenda for or against vaccines,” said Kennedy. “The public needs to know that impartial science – evaluated through a transparent and free process of conflicts of interest – guides the recommendations of our health agencies.”
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All 17 acting members of the committee were appointed during the government of former President Joe Biden, including 13 by 2024, the department said. Not removing them would have prevented President Donald Trump’s government from choosing the majority of the committee by 2028.
“This is a tragedy,” said Jesse Goodman, former Food and Drug Administration (FDA) chief scientist. “This is a highly professional group of scientists, doctors and others… It’s the kind of political interference that will reduce trust instead of increasing it.”
Committee members are required to declare any potential or perceived conflicts of interest that arise in the course of organ management and any relevant commercial interests, authority positions or other connections with relevant work organizations.
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The committee will hold its next meeting from 25 to 27 June in Atlanta, the department said.
FDA approves vaccines for public sale, not the committee. The committee’s function is to review the data at a public meeting and vote for vaccine recommendations, which are then sent to the CDC director for approval.
Approved vaccines are incorporated into the CDC vaccination schedule.
