Payam Javan: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced on June 9, 2025, that all 17 members of the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP), which advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), have been replaced under the direction of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The members, appointed during the Biden administration with terms extending to 2027 or 2028 for some, were terminated immediately, with HHS citing concerns that their appointments were designed to entrench a specific public health ideology and hinder efforts to restore trust in vaccines. Kennedy emphasized that the new, yet-to-be-identified members will prioritize evidence-based medicine and public health, moving away from what he described as industry-driven agendas.

The decision has sparked criticism, with Dr. Bruce Scott of the American Medical Association arguing that removing the entire ACIP undermines a trusted, transparent process that has saved countless lives. The ACIP, established in 1964, provides non-binding vaccine recommendations to the CDC, typically adopted by its director. Recent committee discussions included reevaluating universal COVID-19 vaccine recommendations, and in May, the CDC, following Kennedy’s directive, removed the recommendation for pregnant women to receive COVID-19 vaccines and advised consultation for children without compromised immune systems. The panel is set to meet on June 25–27 to discuss COVID-19 vaccines and other issues.