RFK Jr.’s new vaccine panel upends CDC practices, raising global concerns about US immunization policy

RFK Jr.’s new vaccine panel upends CDC practices, raising global concerns about US immunization policy

US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s overhaul of the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel has already set off turbulence. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices met in Atlanta for two days this week, and what unfolded was a mix of heated debate, chaotic votes, and significant changes to vaccine guidance. With Kennedy’s handpicked members steering the conversation, the panel moved away from traditional scientific vetting and toward a sharper focus on potential vaccine risks, the Wall Street Journal reported.

New focus on side effects

The addition of five new members helped pivot the panel’s discussions toward vaccine side effects, particularly those linked to Covid-19 shots. Retsef Levi, a critic of the Covid vaccine rollout, accused the CDC of hiding risks. Most studies, however, continue to show serious adverse effects are rare. By shifting the spotlight to risks, members signalled a broader rethinking of how vaccines are judged, which unsettled many public health experts.

Abandoning established vetting methods

One of the most striking moves was the committee’s decision to abandon the evidence-to-recommendations framework. This process had forced members to weigh the quality of scientific studies and practical implementation issues before making policy. Its removal drew immediate rebuke from liaisons representing medical societies. “It is important for the public to know how you are going to be vetting this data,” warned Dr. Jason Goldman of the American College of Physicians.

A chaotic first meeting

Signs of disorganization peppered the gathering. Members challenged CDC staff over data, cited studies not available to the public, and even reversed a vote on children’s vaccine coverage within 24 hours. A decision to keep the measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV) vaccine covered under a federal program was undone the next day. The new chairman, Martin Kulldorff, admitted, “There are many technical issues that we might not grasp as of yet,” underscoring the panel’s growing pains.

Covid vaccines and individual choice

Perhaps the most consequential vote came on Covid-19 shots. The panel abandoned blanket recommendations for adults and instead urged “individual decision-making” through consultations with doctors. Seniors, previously encouraged to take boosters, are now left to decide for themselves. This marked a sharp departure from earlier CDC guidance and reflects Kennedy’s broader push to frame vaccination as a matter of personal choice rather than public consensus.

Separate shots for children

The panel also voted to stop recommending the combined MMRV vaccine for children under four. Instead, it advised parents to choose separate shots for measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox. Though the decision wasn’t based on new data, members cited concerns about a slightly higher risk of fever-induced seizures in children receiving the combined dose. The move effectively narrowed options for families, even though most already choose separate shots.

Hepatitis B debate deferred

Another flashpoint came over the hepatitis B vaccine given at birth. Some members questioned its necessity for babies whose mothers test negative, echoing long-standing arguments of vaccine sceptics. Paediatricians warned that delaying the first dose would risk missing infections caused by testing errors or later transmission. Unable to reach consensus, the panel tabled the vote. “We are more prudent when we are cautious,” said Dr. Joseph Hibbeln, urging more deliberation.

Concerns about direction

For longtime observers, the meeting was a jarring shift from the committee’s reputation for rigorous, transparent science. Dr. Paul Offit of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia said, “We used to look to the Advisory Committee for excellent, reproducible, robust data. Now it’s just a matter of trying to reduce the damage.” Critics fear the new direction could weaken public trust in immunization just as outbreaks of measles and other preventable diseases are reemerging globally.