CHICAGO — In a sweeping shake-up, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Monday he is removing all 17 current members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP), a key body responsible for vaccine policy recommendations in the U.S.
“Today we are prioritizing the restoration of public trust above any specific pro- or anti-vaccine agenda,” Kennedy said in an official statement, according to ABC7 Chicago. “The public must know that unbiased science, evaluated through a transparent process and insulated from conflicts of interest, guides the recommendations of our health agencies.”
Background On The ACIP Committee
The ACIP plays a central role in U.S. public health policy by advising the CDC on vaccine schedules, safety data, clinical efficacy, and eligibility protocols. Its recommendations heavily influence pediatric and adult immunization guidelines across the country.
According to the HHS press release, all 17 members removed were appointed under the Biden administration, with 13 appointed just last year in 2024.
RFK Jr.: ‘Clean Sweep’ Is Necessary
In his statement, Kennedy sharply criticized what he called the panel’s rubber-stamp behavior and alleged alignment with industry interests, arguing that such ties contributed to public skepticism.
“A clean sweep is necessary to reestablish public confidence in vaccine science,” he added. “ACIP’s new members will prioritize public health and evidence-based medicine… not industry profit-taking agendas.”
The move is likely to draw praise from RFK Jr.’s supporters who have long raised concerns over pharmaceutical influence in federal vaccine policy — but it may also spark pushback from scientific and medical communities who have defended ACIP’s role as independent and data-driven.
Timing Could Shift Political Vaccine Discourse
The decision comes amid a broader reshaping of federal agencies under the Trump-Kennedy administration, with RFK Jr. increasingly playing a central role in health agency reform. With the next set of appointments originally set for 2028, the clean slate effectively reboots vaccine policy direction years ahead of schedule.
This action will likely deepen the national debate over vaccination mandates, pandemic-era trust erosion, and how much oversight is needed in the public health system.
What Comes Next For The CDC Panel
New appointments to the advisory committee are expected in the coming weeks, though names and selection criteria have not yet been released. Kennedy’s office says the incoming members will be vetted for independence and public health experience, and a new charter for the committee may also be introduced.
As of now, the CDC has not publicly commented on the removals.
Do you believe removing all 17 CDC vaccine advisors will improve trust in public health — or is it a political move that risks destabilizing vaccine policy? Tell us your thoughts now on ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com.
