Cassidy calls for a delay in the meeting of the CDC vaccine, contesting RFK JR.

Senator Bill Cassidy, a powerful Louisiana republican senator, called this week to a major meeting of the federal vaccine, after having had to the secretary of health and social services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

In an article on the social media site X on Monday evening, Cassidy said that the meeting should be postponed until individuals with “more direct relevant expertise” on immunology and epidemiology are added to the reconstituted panel, known as the advisory committee of immunization practices, or ACIP.

“Although people appointed to the AICPI have scientific identification information, many have no significant experience in studying microbiology, epidemiology or immunology. In particular, some lack experience in new technologies such as mRNA vaccines, and can even have a preconceived bias against them,” wrote Cassidy on X.

Despite Cassidy’s call, the ACIP’s meeting will take place as planned for Wednesday and Thursday, according to a familiar source with its planning.

Kennedy only appointed eight people to replace the 17 panelists he dismissed. Among them are Robert Malone, who made false statements on the vaccines of Messenger RNA, and Retsef Levi, who called to stop the vaccinations with mRNA blows.

Cassidy’s comments are the strongest he made in response to the actions taken by Kennedy, who made a series of promises of vaccines to obtain the senator’s vote when he confirmation.

Many medical associations have also criticized Kennedy’s overhaul of the ACIP and called for the reintegration of previous members of the panel.

“The removal of a panel of independent experts appointed by a transparent and selected public candidacy process for their expertise on this issue will undoubtedly seek to sow an additional doubt and cause growing confusion among health professionals and their patients,” said a letter.

Tuesday testifying Tuesday during a congress hearing, Kennedy said that the previous panel was “rigid and omnipresent with pharmaceutical conflicts”. Conflicts of interest of members are publicly disclosed and generally reflect the role of doctors who perform clinical vaccine trials. Kennedy’s selected panel conflicts were not published on the CDC website.

The AIPI provides directives to doctors and patients on how approved vaccines should be used. They examine epidemiological data, clinical trial results and assess the advantages that vaccination offers against risks. Their recommendations generally provide the basis of insurance coverage.

The director of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who supervises the AIPI, generally signs new directives of the panel. But there is no permanent director currently confirmed, and a certain confusion that, if someone, serves as an acting head. As HHS secretary, Kennedy may approve the recommendations of the AIPI in place of the CDC director.

This week’s meeting will offer a discussion and votes on various vaccines, including shots for the syncytial respiratory virus, flu and COVID-19. The agenda, which has been changed since the recast of the committee, also includes a discussion on a mercury -based conservative called Thimérosal, which was the target of marginal theories trying to link vaccination to autism.

Thimérosal is no longer used in most vaccines and tests have not found an association between IT and autism.