WASHINGTON – The US Health and Social Services (HHS) announced on Monday that it had abolished the 17 members of the Vaccination Practices Advisory Committee (ACIP), citing the need to restore public confidence in federal recommendations on the vaccine.
The radical change, led by the HHS secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is part of a broader initiative to increase transparency, reduce conflicts of interest and realign public health decisions with impartial scientific standards.
“Today, we deprive the restoration of public confidence above any professional or anti-vaccine agenda,” said Kennedy. “The public must know that impartial science – has evolved by a transparent and isolated process of conflicts of interest – guides the recommendations of our health agencies.”
This decision follows an executive decree by President Donald Trump “Restoring Gold Standard Science, which requires the reconstruction of scientific advice organizations to ensure their independence from industry and political influence. The HHS declaration noted that 13 of the 17 members of the Committee were appointed in 2024 by the Biden administration, which would have extended their conditions until 2028.
“Clean scanning is necessary to restore public confidence in vaccine science,” said Kennedy. “New members of the AIPI prioritize public health and evidence -based drugs. The Committee will no longer work as a rubber stamp for industry profit programs.”
The committee, which plays an essential role in determining the national immunization calendars, will convene its next meeting from June 25 to 27 at the CDC headquarters in Atlanta. New members are currently being studied, according to HHS.
“The whole world once turned to American health regulators to obtain advice, inspiration, scientific impartiality and impeccable integrity,” added Kennedy. “Public confidence has been eroded. It is only by radical transparency and the science of gold standards, we will win it.”
