Sen. Bill Cassidy, Republican from Louisiana, criticized Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s recent appointments to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) after Kennedy dismissed all 17 existing members in favor of eight new appointees, some of whom are known vaccine skeptics. Cassidy, a medical doctor and chair of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, revealed his concerns via social media, emphasizing that many of the new appointees lack substantial experience in critical fields such as microbiology, epidemiology, and immunology. He highlighted the potential biases against mRNA vaccines among the new members.
Cassidy called for the upcoming ACIP meeting, scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, to be postponed until the committee could be fully staffed with qualified experts, as required by law, and in light of the absence of a CDC Director to endorse their recommendations. Kennedy’s decision to alter the ACIP, despite having committed to maintaining its structure during his confirmation, raised concerns among experts and lawmakers alike.
The Department of Health and Human Services defended Kennedy’s choices, stating the new panel consists of highly credentialed professionals dedicated to evidence-based medicine. The meeting’s agenda includes discussions on flu vaccines containing thimerosal, a controversial preservative linked to unsubstantiated claims about autism by Kennedy. Cassidy’s demands for a delay reflect broader concerns over the integrity and expertise of the advisory committee, especially given the lack of a CDC Director in place and the importance of careful vaccine recommendations.
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