The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a significant restructuring of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) on June 9th. All 17 members of the ACIP have been removed, a decision made under the direction of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The HHS statement explained that the dismissed members, all appointed during the Biden administration, were scheduled to serve until 2027 or 2028. The department alleges these appointments were intended to “lock in public health ideology” and hinder the current administration’s efforts to rebuild public confidence in vaccines.

This sweeping change raises questions about the future direction of vaccine policy and the ongoing efforts to improve public health initiatives. The implications of this decision will be closely watched by public health experts and the wider community.