Trump Administration Revises CDC Vaccine Panel Rules, Welcomes RFK Jr. Allies
WASHINGTON — The federal government revised the charter for the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. The update was published Thursday and expands who may serve on the panel.
Panel overhaul and member changes
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a long-standing vaccine skeptic, removed all committee members soon after taking office. He then appointed new members aligned with his views.
The revised committee later refused to recommend COVID-19 vaccines for some high-risk groups. It also voted to stop recommending most newborn hepatitis B shots.
Broadened qualifications and new language
The updated charter widens qualifications for ACIP membership. That change could allow allies of Kennedy to join the panel.
The charter adds language favored by critics of vaccines. It asks ACIP to study “gaps in vaccine safety research” and to consider “cumulative effects” of multiple shots. It would also direct the panel to review other countries’ vaccination schedules.
Legal fight and operational pause
The American Academy of Pediatrics and other health organizations sued to block the administration’s changes. A federal judge sided with the plaintiffs last month, at least temporarily halting ACIP meetings.
The administration has said it plans to appeal. No appeal has been filed so far.
Statements from advocates and officials
Richard H. Hughes IV, the attorney for the pediatric group, said the charter changes erode confidence in vaccine policy. He argued the alterations are part of efforts to undermine ACIP.
An HHS spokesman, Andrew Nixon, called the renewal routine. Nixon said republishing the charter is a statutory requirement and not a broader policy shift.
Why ACIP matters
ACIP advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which typically follows committee recommendations. Those recommendations influence state school vaccine rules and insurance coverage for shots.
The charter had been renewed every two years with little public attention. Critics say these latest changes have wider implications for public health guidance.
Coverage of the move even ran under the line Trump Administration Revises CDC Vaccine Panel Rules, Welcomes RFK Jr. Allies, drawing national attention. Filmogaz.com will continue to follow developments as legal and administrative actions proceed.
