In a decisive effort to rebuild transparency and public confidence in federal health policy, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has dismissed all 17 members of the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel and announced a full overhaul of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).
“Today, we are prioritizing the restoration of public trust above any specific pro- or anti-vaccine agenda,” Kennedy stated. “The public must know that unbiased science—evaluated through a transparent process and insulated from conflicts of interest—guides our national health decisions.”
The ACIP has long played a significant role in shaping U.S. vaccine recommendations; however, Kennedy noted that many of its members were appointed under the Biden administration, and several had documented ties to pharmaceutical interests. By clearing the slate, Kennedy intends to end what he called the panel’s tendency to act as a “rubber stamp for industry profit-taking agendas.”
Critics, including establishment health officials and pharmaceutical allies, quickly attacked the move. But Kennedy is undeterred. “A clean sweep is necessary,” he wrote in The Wall Street Journal, citing years of questionable decisions and a lack of accountability. He reaffirmed that new appointees will be chosen for their independence, scientific rigor, and commitment to public welfare, not corporate allegiance.
While media voices have attempted to stir fear and cast Kennedy’s decision as “anti-vaccine,” many Americans see it as long overdue reform. With childhood vaccination rates declining and trust in federal health agencies at a historic low, Kennedy’s move sends a strong message: science must serve the people, not private profit.
This reset is not about ideology—it’s about putting the American people first and demanding transparency, accountability, and honesty from those entrusted with public health.
