Medical and Public Health Experts Sound Alarms on Dismissal of ACIP Vaccine Experts

On June 9, the U.S. Secretary for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that the agency dismissed all 17 independent members of the Center for Disease Control’s Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP).

Immediately, organizations representing leading experts in medicine, public health, and policy pushed back on the decision, warning of consequences to Americans’ health and calling the move “reckless,” “dangerous,” and “severely harmful.”

In addition to PFID’s statement here, see below for excerpts of the responses from top medical organizations and links to their full reactions.

American Academy of Family Physicians

“This dangerous move erodes decades of established processes, discards the expertise of the medical and scientific community, and delays getting lifesaving vaccines to patients. We will not stand by while core institutions and systems that protect the health of patients, families and communities are undermined.”

Full statement here.

American Academy of Pediatrics

“Children and families must be able to access the immunizations they need to stay healthy. Our vaccine infrastructure must include this critical step of nonpartisan, expert review and discussion of the science and clinical recommendations for individual vaccines. Families and children will be the ones to pay the price for this decision.”

Full statement here.

American Academy of Physician Associates

“For the health and wellbeing of communities everywhere, it is imperative that the administration acts promptly to reconstruct the committee through an open and transparent process that includes diverse provider voices, including PAs.”

Full statement here.

American College of Physicians

“[The] announcement will seriously erode public confidence in our government’s ability to ensure the health of the American public and it will endanger the safety, welfare and lives of our patients. We call on the administration to immediately reverse course.”

Full statement here.

American Medical Association

“Today’s action to remove the 17 sitting members of ACIP undermines that trust and upends a transparent process that has saved countless lives. With an ongoing measles outbreak and routine child vaccination rates declining, this move will further fuel the spread of vaccine-preventable illnesses.”

Full statement here.

American Pharmacists Association

“It is highly concerning that removing 17 scientists overnight eliminates the historical knowledge, scientific training, and clinical expertise required to equip pharmacists and the public to make appropriate choices for health based upon the risk.”

Full statement here.

American Public Health Association

“This action immediately raises concern over the ability of any slate of committee members appointed by the Trump administration to be viewed as impartial to RFK's views on any decision, and therefore their actions will be suspect and likely mistrusted.”

Full statement here. 

California Medical Association

“Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s decision to remove all 17 members of the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel is reckless, anti-science, and deeply harmful to public trust.”

Full statement here.

Infectious Diseases Society of America

“ACIP is a highly qualified group of experts that has always operated with transparency and a commitment to protecting the public’s health. Unilaterally removing an entire panel of experts is reckless, shortsighted and severely harmful.”

Full statement here.

National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners

“NAPNAP urges the CDC to fully evaluate ACIP candidates’ scientific/medical credentials, including but not limited to education, certification, research experience, peer-reviewed publication, and scholarly presentation. Children and families deserve no less.”

Full statement here.

National Medical Association

“This latest move further undercuts the public’s trust in vaccines and our healthcare system by creating confusion for patients and their healthcare providers.”

Full statement here.

Medical Society of the District of Columbia

“MSDC believes the ACIP members must be unequivocally qualified and respected medical experts chosen without regards to politics. We echo the comments of the American Medical Association and other medical organizations decrying this decision.”

Full statement here.

Vaccinate Your Family

“Vaccinate Your Family urges HHS and CDC leadership to immediately clarify how ACIP will continue to function as an independent, evidence-based body, and to reaffirm their commitment to preserving universal vaccine coverage through public and commercial insurance. Lives depend on it.”

Full statement here.