After court loss, RFK Jr. gives himself more power over CDC vaccine panel
Ars Technica • • nation
Key Points:
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Health Secretary, has amended the federal vaccine advisory panel's charter, seemingly granting himself greater authority to hand-pick members and relax membership expertise requirements.
- This move follows a federal judge's temporary block on Kennedy's appointees, who were criticized for lacking relevant vaccine expertise and failing to represent a balanced scientific perspective, leading to the suspension of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) activities.
- The updated charter removes previous strict expertise criteria in immunization and vaccine science, instead emphasizing geographic and specialty diversity, potentially broadening the range of acceptable member backgrounds.
- Anti-vaccine group Informed Consent Action Network (ICAN), allied with Kennedy, influenced the proposed changes, advocating for inclusion of members with experience in vaccine injury advocacy or treatment.
- The Department of Health and Human Services stated the charter renewal is routine and does not indicate a broader policy change, declining to comment on the specific amendments.
