US health secretary fires all members of vaccine advisory panel
US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has fired all the members of a vaccine advisory committee for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The US Department of Health and Human Services announced on Monday that it removed all 17 members of the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices.
In a statement from the HHS, Kennedy said "A clean sweep is necessary to reestablish public confidence in vaccine science". It said the Biden administration appointed all of the 17 sitting ACIP members.
ACIP is comprised of outside experts including doctors and researchers who decide on whether to push forward vaccines to the CDC based on scientific data. The CDC chief makes the final call of whether to recommend the use of vaccines.
ACIP recommended the use of vaccines for COVID-19.
The Infectious Diseases Society of America said "Secretary Kennedy's allegations about the integrity of CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices are completely unfounded and will have a significant negative impact on Americans of all ages."
The IDSA added that "Scientific recommendations about infectious diseases and vaccines that the public can trust require established experts to make them."
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Yomiuri Shimbun
2 days ago
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Kennedy's New Vaccine Panel Alarms Pediatricians with Inquiries into Long-Settled Questions
ATLANTA (AP) — U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s new vaccine advisers alarmed pediatricians Wednesday by announcing inquiries into some long-settled questions about children's shots. Opening the first meeting of Kennedy's handpicked seven-member panel, committee chairman Martin Kulldorff said he was appointing a work group to evaluate the 'cumulative effect' of the children's vaccine schedule — the list of immunizations given at different times throughout childhood. Also to be evaluated, he said, is how two other shots are administered — one that guards against liver-destroying hepatitis B and another that combines chickenpox protection with MMR, the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. It was an early sign of how the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is being reshaped by Kennedy, a leading antivaccine activist before becoming the nation's top health official. He fired the entire 17-member panel this month and replaced it with a group that includes several anti-vaccine voices. 'Vaccines are not all good or bad,' Kulldorff said. 'We are learning more about vaccines over time' and must 'keep up to date.' His announcement reflected a common message of vaccine skeptics: that too many shots may overwhelm kids' immune systems or that the ingredients may build up to cause harm. Scientists say those claims have been repeatedly investigated with no signs of concern. Kids today are exposed to fewer antigens — immune-revving components — than their grandparents despite getting more doses, because of improved vaccine technology, said Dr. Paul Offit, a vaccine expert at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. The American Academy of Pediatrics announced Wednesday that it would continue publishing its own vaccine schedule for children but now will do so independently of the ACIP, calling it 'no longer a credible process.' 'The narrative that current vaccine policies are flawed and need 'fixing' is a distortion,' said the AAP's Dr. Sean O'Leary. 'These policies have saved trillions of dollars and millions of lives.' The ACIP, created more than 60 years ago, helps the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention determine who should be vaccinated against a long list of diseases, and when. Those recommendations have a big impact on whether insurance covers vaccinations and where they're available, such as at pharmacies. After Kennedy's abrupt dismissal of the existing expert panel, a number of the CDC's top vaccine scientists — including some who lead the reporting of data and the vetting of presentations at ACIP meetings — have resigned or been moved out of previous positions. And shortly before Wednesday's meeting, a Virginia-based obstetrician and gynecologist appointed to the committee stepped down. According to the Trump administration, he withdrew during a customary review of members' financial holdings. Scientists show data that COVID-19 vaccines protect pregnant women and kids First on the committee's agenda Wednesday were COVID-19 vaccinations. Kennedy already sidestepped the panel and announced the vaccine will no longer be recommended for healthy children or pregnant women. Yet CDC scientists told the panel that vaccination is 'the best protection' during pregnancy, and said most children hospitalized for COVID-19 over the past year were unvaccinated. COVID-19 remains a public health threat, resulting in 32,000 to 51,000 U.S. deaths and more than 250,000 hospitalizations since last fall, according to the CDC. Most at risk for hospitalization are seniors and children under 2 — especially infants under 6 months who could have some protection if their mom got vaccinated during pregnancy, according to the CDC's presentation. The new advisers weren't asked to vote on Kennedy's recommendations, which raise uncertainty about how easily people will be able to access COVID-19 vaccinations this fall. After CDC staff outlined multiple overlapping systems that continue to track the vaccines' safety, several advisers questioned if the real-world data really is trustworthy. Vote on RSV protections is postponed Also Wednesday, the committee took up RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, a common cause of cold-like symptoms that can be dangerous for infants. In 2023, U.S. health officials began recommending two new measures to protect infants — a lab-made antibody for newborns and a vaccine for pregnant women — that experts say likely drove an improvement in infant mortality. The antibody proved to be 63% to 76% effective against emergency department visits for infants over the last year. 'People need to understand what a spectacular accomplishment these results are,' said ACIP member Dr. Cody Meissner, of Dartmouth. The committee postponed until Thursday a vote on whether to recommend another company's newly approved antibody shot as well. Flu shot recommendations to be debated At its June meetings, the committee usually refreshes guidance for Americans 6 months and older to get a flu shot, and helps green light the annual fall vaccination campaign. But a vote set for Thursday also promises controversy. The panel is set to consider a preservative in a subset of flu shots that Kennedy and some antivaccine groups have falsely contended is tied to autism. In preparation, the CDC posted a new report confirming that research shows no link between the preservative, thimerosal, and autism or any other neurodevelopmental disorders. By Wednesday afternoon, the analysis had been removed from the committee's website.
Japan Today
2 days ago
- Japan Today
Kennedy's new vaccine advisers meet for first time
Dr. Martin Kulldorf speaks during a meeting of the Advisory Committee in Immunization Practices at the CDC, Wednesday, June 25, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart) By MIKE STOBBE and LAURAN NEERGAARD U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s new vaccine advisers began their first meeting Wednesday under intense scrutiny from medical experts worried about Americans' access to lifesaving shots. First on the agenda is an awkward scenario: Kennedy already announced COVID-19 vaccines will no longer be recommended for healthy children or pregnant women, and his new advisers aren't scheduled to vote on whether they agree. Yet government scientists prepared meeting materials calling vaccination 'the best protection' during pregnancy — and said most children hospitalized for COVID-19 over the past year were unvaccinated. COVID-19 remains a public health threat, resulting in 32,000 to 51,000 U.S. deaths and more than 250,000 hospitalizations since last fall, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most at risk for hospitalization are seniors and children under 2 — especially infants under 6 months who could have some protection if their mom got vaccinated during pregnancy, according to the CDC's presentation. It's one signal that this week's two-day meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices isn't business as usual. Another sign: Shortly before the meeting, a Virginia-based obstetrician and gynecologist stepped down from the committee, bringing the panel's number to just seven. The Trump administration said Dr. Michael Ross withdrew during a customary review of members' financial holdings. The meeting opened as the American Academy of Pediatrics announced that it will continue publishing its own vaccine schedule for children but now will do so independently of the ACIP, calling it 'no longer a credible process.' The panel, created more than 60 years ago, helps the CDC determine who should be vaccinated against a long list of diseases, and when. Those recommendations have a big impact on whether insurance covers vaccinations and where they're available, such as at pharmacies. Earlier this month, Kennedy abruptly dismissed the existing 17-member expert panel and handpicked eight replacements, including several anti-vaccine voices. And a number of the CDC's top vaccine scientists — including some who lead the reporting of data and the vetting of presentations at ACIP meetings — have resigned or been moved out of previous positions. The highly unusual moves prompted a last-minute plea from a prominent Republican senator to delay this week's meeting. Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, a physician who chairs the chamber's health committee, said Monday that many of Kennedy's chosen panelists lack the required expertise and 'may even have a preconceived bias' against new vaccine technologies. In a House hearing Tuesday, Kennedy defended his purge, saying the old panel had been 'a template for medical malpractice.' Rep. Kim Schrier, a pediatrician and Democrat from Washington state, told Kennedy: 'I will lay all responsibility for every death from a vaccine-preventable illness at your feet.' The two-day meeting's agenda on was abruptly changed last week. Discussion of COVID-19 shots will open the session on Wednesday. Later in the day, the committee will take up RSV, with votes expected. On Thursday, the committee will vote on fall flu vaccinations and on the use of a preservative in certain flu shots. RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is a common cause of cold-like symptoms that can be dangerous for infants. In 2023, U.S. health officials began recommending two new measures to protect infants — a lab-made antibody for newborns and a vaccine for pregnant women — that experts say likely drove an improvement in infant mortality. The committee will discuss another company's newly approved antibody shot, but the exact language for the vote was not released prior to the meeting. 'I think there may be a theme of soft-pedaling or withdrawing recommendations for healthy pregnant women and healthy children,' even though they are at risk from vaccine-preventable diseases, said Lawrence Gostin, a public health law expert at Georgetown University who co-authored a recent medical journal commentary criticizing the COVID-19 vaccination decision. At its June meetings, the committee usually refreshes guidance for Americans 6 month and older to get a flu shot, and helps greenlight the annual fall vaccination campaign. But given the recent changes to the committee and federal public health leadership, it's unclear how routine topics will be treated, said Jason Schwartz, a Yale University health policy researcher who has studied the committee. Thursday also promises controversy. The advisory panel is set to consider a preservative in a subset of flu shots that Kennedy and some antivaccine groups have falsely contended is tied to autism. In preparation, the CDC posted a new report confirming that research shows no link between the preservative, thimerosal, and autism or any other neurodevelopmental disorders. Gostin said the agenda appears to be 'a combination of what we would normally expect ACIP to cover along with a mixture of potential conspiracy theories,' he said. 'We clearly are in a new normal that's highly skeptical of vaccine science.' The committee's recommendations traditionally go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director. Historically, nearly all are accepted and then used by insurance companies in deciding what vaccines to cover. But the CDC currently has no director, so the committee's recommendations have been going to Kennedy, and he has yet to act on a couple recommendations ACIP made in April. The CDC director nominee, Susan Monarez, is slated to go before a Senate committee on Wednesday. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Japan Times
3 days ago
- Japan Times
Tick-borne disease cases, with one death, confirmed in Kanto region
Cases of tick-borne diseases have been reported in the Kanto region, with one confirmed death, prompting prefectural governments to urge residents to be vigilant. Of particular concern is 'severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome' (SFTS), which is primarily transmitted through ticks infected with the virus. The incubation period ranges from 6 days to 2 weeks, with symptoms including fever and diarrhea. SFTS has a fatality rate of 27%. On Monday, a woman in her 60s from Suruga Ward, Shizuoka Prefecture, died from SFTS, said Ryutaro Yagi, an official at the infectious diseases division of the Shizuoka City Public Health Center. This is the first confirmed death from SFTS in the prefecture since statistics began being compiled in 2013, said Junya Noda, a prefectural official. The woman began experiencing fever, fatigue and digestive issues on June 16. She was hospitalized on June 19 and died shortly after being diagnosed with SFTS. There were no visible tick bites, and the route of infection remains unknown, Yagi said, adding that Shizuoka City is 'urging residents to take preventive measures.' Wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants when entering grassy areas helps reduce skin exposure, the health ministry said, while bright-colored clothing makes it easier to spot ticks. The health ministry added that the risk of tick bites increases from spring to fall, when ticks are most active. Other cases of tick-borne diseases have also been reported in Shizuoka Prefecture. A man in his 60s from Tenryu Ward in the city of Hamamatsu visited a medical institution on June 19 with symptoms including fever, and was diagnosed with SFTS on Monday, according to the city's health center. While the route of infection remains unclear, three tick bites could be seen on the man's body. A city official noted that there is a high possibility that the man got infected while farming. Ticks can also carry a disease known as 'Japanese spotted fever,' with symptoms including high fever and a rash. In Shizuoka Prefecture, a woman in her 80s died last month from the disease, and as of June 13, eight cases of infection have been confirmed, Noda said. Tick-borne diseases can be fatal for pets. In the city of Mito in Ibaraki Prefecture, a cat died after being infected with SFTS last month, according to the city's official website. Residents were urged by the city to keep pets indoors and take precautions to reduce the risk of infection.
