WASHINGTON, DC – Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Monday that he has dismissed all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the key scientific group advising the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on vaccine usage.

Key Facts

• Unprecedented Dismissal – Secretary Kennedy fired all 17 existing members of the ACIP, a move described by some as unprecedented in the committee’s history.
• Stated Justification – Kennedy stated in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece that a “clean sweep is needed to re-establish public confidence in vaccine science,” citing alleged conflicts of interest among panel members.
• Criticism from Medical Groups – Major medical and public health organizations, including the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American Public Health Association (APHA), have criticized the decision, warning of undermined trust and potential increases in vaccine-preventable diseases.

The dismissal of the entire Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) represents a significant shift in the structure advising the nation on vaccine policy.

Why the Entire Advisory Panel Was Replaced

In a public statement and a Wall Street Journal opinion piece, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. articulated his rationale for the sweeping changes. He asserted that the drastic action was necessary to “re-establish public confidence in vaccine science,” claiming that many former committee members had undisclosed conflicts of interest. The Secretary indicated that the previous administration had appointed all 17 members, with 13 of those appointments occurring just last year. Without removing the current members, the current administration would not have been able to appoint a majority of new members until 2028. Kennedy emphasized that the newly appointed members would prioritize “public health and evidence-based medicine” and would no longer serve as “a rubber stamp for industry profit-taking agendas.”

The Role of the ACIP and What Comes Next

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is a critical independent panel of medical and public health experts. It evaluates the safety, efficacy, and clinical need of vaccines, and its recommendations are instrumental in shaping the CDC’s annual immunization schedules for children and adults. These recommendations also influence which vaccines are covered by health insurance and federal programs.

Secretary Kennedy stated that new members are currently under consideration and that the reconstituted committee is expected to convene in Atlanta in late June. The specific criteria for selecting these new members have not been detailed.

Reactions from Public Health Organizations

The decision has drawn swift and strong criticism from various medical and public health organizations. The American Medical Association (AMA), for instance, described the move as undermining trust and disrupting a transparent process that has saved countless lives. Dr. Bruce A. Scott, president of the AMA, warned that such actions, coupled with declining vaccination rates, could lead to an increase in vaccine-preventable diseases. Similarly, Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association (APHA), called the mass dismissal “a coup,” expressing concerns about the impartiality of future committee members. Public health experts have highlighted that ACIP members are typically vetted for conflicts of interest and are required to disclose any potential issues, recusing themselves when necessary.