CDC vaccine committee faces backlash amid membership overhaul

On June 25, 2025, a significant meeting took place at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) discussed vaccination policies amid considerable political and public scrutiny. This meeting followed the controversial dismissal of the previous committee members by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who appointed a new panel without extensive vetting, leading to bipartisan criticism regarding the expertise of the newly appointed members. Senators Bill Cassidy and Patty Murray openly condemned this reshuffling, citing concerns over the qualifications of the new members and suggesting that the recommendations from ACIP could be undermined due to perceived biases. Moreover, the American Academy of Pediatrics declared that the immunization policy process under the new committee was no longer credible. During the meeting, data on COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines were presented, discussing their safety and effectiveness. While the meeting included discussions about existing vaccines, a vote on recommendations for RSV vaccines was postponed until the next day due to the ongoing controversy surrounding the committee's composition and the urgency of basing decisions on credible expertise. Dr. Martin Kulldorff, the ACIP chair, emphasized a commitment to making evidence-based recommendations despite the chaos surrounding the meeting's authority and composition. As a result, the ongoing discussions and meeting outcomes will likely impact public health policies and vaccination strategies moving forward in the U.S.