The recently constituted immunization board headed by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary, took only preliminary steps during their inaugural assembly. The conclave involving the seven-member Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) was conducted at the headquarters of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia on the 25th and 26th of June.
During the two-day meeting, the committee reviewed mRNA vaccine technology, advocated for Merck’s newly formulated anti-RSV monoclonal antibody, and consented to the elimination of thimerosal from influenza vaccines. Their meeting was wrapped up with a unified declaration emphasising their commitment to ‘unbiased scientific deliberation’ and the recognition of their governmental role.
The committee members expressed awareness that their decisions may be interpreted as obligatory. ‘Our rulings are advisories, however, we realize some might perceive these as compulsory. Hence, we approach this duty with utmost seriousness,’ they affirmed.
In an unusual move, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) abstained from the meeting, announcing they would be releasing their independent guidelines on vaccines. Earlier, on June 9th, Kennedy had disbanded the original seventeen-member panel put in place by the Biden administration, replacing them with eight new nominees. Subsequently, one nominee, Michael Ross, withdrew, leaving the committee with its current seven members.
To date, aside from the overhaul of the ACIP panel, Kennedy’s interventions in vaccine policy have been limited. He announced on May 27th that the government would no longer advocate for COVID-19 vaccinations for healthy children and expectant mothers. In a press statement on June 9th, Kennedy justified the complete ACIP reshuffle as long overdue.
Kennedy alleged that the lasting connections members had with the pharmaceutical industry had compromised the independence of the ACIP, relegating it to a ‘rubber stamp for the business-profit agendas.’ The ACIP was established in 1964 to render ‘expert panel advice’ to the CDC and the HHS Secretary and has so far been subject to minimal oversight.
A key report by the House of Representatives in 2000 revealed that members routinely sidestepped conflict-of-interest rules, favouring their financial interests when adjudicating product safety. A similar conclusion was reached in a report by the HHS inspector-general in 2009.
Kennedy’s appointments to the ACIP were individuals with extensive knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry, its political links, and known critics of federal vaccine guidelines. The appointed Chair, Martin Kulldorf, was a co-author of the Great Barrington Declaration, a noted critique of COVID-19 lockdown measures. Another appointee, Robert Malone, is an early patent holder of mRNA technology.
Renowned MIT researcher Retsef Levi is also among the committee members, as well as Cody Meissner, a pediatrics professor at Tufts University, and panel members Vicky Pebsworth, Abram Wagner, and James Pagano. Jeffrey Singer, M.D., a prominent senior fellow at the Cato Institute, praised some of these appointments.
Singer argued, ‘Certain nominees on the newly constituted ACIP, such as Meissner and Kulldorf, are data-driven quality individuals who were unjustly criticized for not endorsing the general company narrative about the COVID vaccine and the consequent pandemic.’ However, Singer also shared his reservations about a few other appointments who are known for their skepticism toward vaccines and the pharmaceutical industry.
Singling out the American College of Pediatricians’ (ACIP) statement, the organization expressed its acceptance of the new panel, highlighting vaccines as a major contributor to preventive healthcare. However, the group also welcomed a reevaluation of their safety and effectiveness.
The Executive Director of ACP, Jill Simons, M.S., stated, ‘We look forward to the new ACIP committee members basing their vaccine decisions on compelling, research-backed evidence, rather than personal narratives or anecdotes. We hope their actions will be open and truthful to the public, enabling parents to make educated choices and provide the best possible healthcare to their children in relation to vaccines.’
There has been an observable decline in public faith since the previous administration, which has now started to substantially affect the global regard for American Health regulators, as Kennedy pointed out. He believes that the reestablishment of faith will only be possible through the highest levels of transparency and top-tier scientific credibility.
The Secretary concluded, ‘Ultimate openness and gold standard research will act as our primary tools in re-earning that trust,’ in a concluding press release.
The post Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Charts New Course for ACIP in Inaugural Meeting appeared first on Real News Now.
About Author
