RFK Jr. appoints eight new experts to ACIP after filing all 17 vaccine panel members

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made headlines on Wednesday when he announced the selection of eight new members to the national vaccine panel after dismissing all 17 of its previous members. Kennedy stated that he took this action in order to restore public trust in vaccines and ensure that the committee is comprised of individuals committed to evidence-based medicine and common sense.

In a recent X post, Kennedy revealed that he had reconstituted the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) with the eight new members who will attend the upcoming June 25 meeting. These new members include highly credentialed scientists, leading public-health experts, and accomplished physicians, all of whom have committed to demanding definitive safety and efficacy data before making any new vaccine recommendations.

The newly appointed members of the committee are Joseph R. Hibbeln, MD; Martin Kulldorff, MD, PhD; Retsef Levi, PhD; Robert W. Malone, MD; Cody Meissner, MD; James Pagano, MD; Vicky Pebsworth, OP, PhD, RN; and Michael A. Ross, MD. Kennedy emphasized that each of these individuals brings a wealth of expertise and experience in various aspects of healthcare, ranging from psychiatric conditions to infectious disease epidemiology.

Notably, Martin Kulldorff, one of the newly appointed members, was a co-author of the Great Barrington Declaration, which advocated for lifting lockdown orders sooner and allowing COVID-19 to spread among young, healthy individuals in order to reach herd immunity more quickly. Kennedy’s decision to appoint Kulldorff and other members who prioritize evidence-based medicine and vaccine safety signals a shift in the approach to vaccine policy.

Kennedy’s announcement comes after he ousted all 17 previous members of the ACIP, stating his intention to bring in new individuals who are not anti-vaxxers but rather credentialed scientists. The upcoming meeting in June is expected to address various vaccination recommendations, including those for flu, COVID-19, HPV, RSV, and meningococcal bacteria.

The new committee members bring a diverse range of expertise to the table, with backgrounds spanning biostatistics, epidemiology, vaccine development, pediatric infectious diseases, and obstetrics and gynecology. Their combined knowledge and experience will inform discussions on vaccine safety, efficacy, and public health policy, ensuring that recommendations are based on the latest scientific evidence.

Kennedy’s decision to revamp the ACIP with a fresh slate of members reflects his commitment to restoring public trust in vaccines and prioritizing safety and efficacy in vaccination recommendations. As the committee prepares to convene in June, the newly appointed members are poised to contribute their expertise to shaping national immunization guidelines and promoting evidence-based healthcare practices.