The CDC vaccine advisers who were removed by RFK Jr. speak out
Our public health system has become significantly weakened
On June 9, 2025, Health & Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. unexpectedly dismissed all 17 members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)—a panel charged with shaping national vaccine policy since 1964.
Two days later, he appointed just eight new members, some known for expressing vaccine skepticism.
What the Former ACIP Members Are Saying — Directly
In a strongly worded article published this week in JAMA, the ousted members—all 17—warn that Kennedy’s abrupt overhaul has “left the U.S. vaccine program critically weakened.” They argued the action was “destabilizing decisions, made without clear rationale, may roll back the achievements of U.S. immunization policy, impact people’s access to lifesaving vaccines, and ultimately put U.S. families at risk of dangerous and preventable illnesses.”
Their concerns include:
Loss of continuity: Decades of institutional knowledge have been abruptly erased.
Access disruption: Insurers and public health programs often rely on ACIP’s expert recommendations—now in flux.
Erosion of public trust: Removing a time-trusted, transparent advisory process creates space for politicization and misinformation.
“The abrupt dismissal … along with its executive secretary … have left the U.S. vaccine program critically weakened”
Who are the New ACIP Members and Why they are Concerning
Dr. Joseph R. Hibbeln – Psychiatrist and former NIH researcher focused on nutrition and mental health.
🔴He lacks direct experience in immunology, vaccinology, or public health policy.Dr. Martin Kulldorff – Biostatistician and co-author of the Great Barrington Declaration promoting “focused protection” over broad COVID-19 mitigation, essentially promoting mass infection.
🔴He has consistently opposed mainstream public health strategies and downplayed infectious disease threats.Retsef Levi – MIT professor of operations management, known for analytical work in vaccine safety.
🔴He has spread unsubstantiated claims of widespread vaccine harm, despite lacking a medical or epidemiological background.Dr. Robert W. Malone – Physician and self-described mRNA vaccine pioneer; has repeatedly spread COVID-19 vaccine misinformation.
🔴He has been banned from multiple platforms for misinformation and has undermined vaccine trust globally.Dr. H. Cody Meissner – Pediatric infectious disease specialist and former ACIP member (2008–2012).
🟡Though qualified, he has expressed skepticism about COVID-19 vaccines for children and frequently echoed Kennedy’s views.Dr. James Pagano – Emergency medicine physician.
🔴He has no demonstrated expertise in vaccines, immunology, or population-level public health policy.Dr. Michael A. Ross – OB/GYN and executive at a biotech startup using AI in drug delivery.
🔴He lacks public health or vaccine-specific experience and may pose conflicts of interest due to industry ties.Vicky Pebsworth, PhD, RN – Nurse and public health researcher; board member of the National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC).
🔴NVIC is a leading anti-vaccine organization, and her involvement suggests endorsement of pseudoscience and fear-based messaging.
Shadows Beyond ACIP
The upheaval hasn't stopped there:
CDC staff involved in immunization programs have been cut, and several key experts—like Dr. Lakshmi Panagiotakopoulos—have resigned
Major medical organizations such as the AMA and American Academy of Pediatrics—and even state bodies like the California Medical Association—have condemned the move as “reckless,” “politically motivated,” and harmful to public health.
Why It Matters
ACIP’s recommendations matter more than words:
Insurance coverage often hinges on their guidelines.
Vaccine manufacturers follow their lead, shaping research and production.
Public confidence stems from ACIP’s transparent, multi-decade process.
The JAMA authors warned of real-world consequences: “access to lifesaving vaccines” could be affected—impacting children, immunocompromised people, pregnant women, and communities relying on public clinics.
On Deck: The June 25–27 ACIP Reboot Meeting
This upcoming session—on COVID-19 boosters, flu, HPV, RSV, meningococcal vaccines—is the first under Kennedy’s new regime, but with no institutional memory from the previous committee, experts fear:
A less rigorous review, dominated by ideological or unvetted perspectives.
Decisions swayed by political motives, not data.
Rollback of long-standing public health measures.
Final Thoughts
The last paragraph of their article says it all:
As former ACIP members, we are deeply concerned that these destabilizing decisions, made without clear rationale, may roll back the achievements of US immunization policy, impact people’s access to lifesaving vaccines, and ultimately put US families at risk of dangerous and preventable illnesses. Vaccines and the anti-RSV monoclonal antibodies are lifesaving, and people in the US deserve to have recommendations and broad access to use them to prevent serious diseases. In this age of government efficiency, the US public needs to know that the routine vaccination of approximately 117 million children from 1994-2023 likely prevented around 508 million lifetime cases of illness, 32 million hospitalizations, and 1 129 000 deaths, at a net savings of $540 billion in direct costs and $2.7 trillion in societal costs. Finally, as individuals, we remain committed to evidence-based vaccine policy, both through our ongoing work in immunization science, public health, and medical education, and by supporting future efforts to keep America healthy that uphold scientific rigor and the public’s trust.
By broadcasting their critique in JAMA, the fired ACIP members have sounded an alarm: this is more than a personnel shuffle—it’s a seismic shift in U.S. vaccine governance. If the coming ACIP meeting abandons evidence-backed consensus, it could mark the start of an era where public health guidance bends to politics, not science.
Although not required, any support is greatly appreciated.
It may be time to create a freestanding alternative “ACIP” to serve as a trustworthy source for vaccine information for the next four years. Perhaps some of the 17 former members would be willing to undertake this.
As much as capitalism generally harms medicine I hope this is one of the times it helps. Vaccine manufacturers are not going to want a decrease in sales, hopefully they can apply some pressure and minimize the harm. The pressure from the farm and hospitality lobbies have changed the direction of ICE enforcement...for now.
Mandy, MSN, RN