After court loss, RFK Jr. gives himself more power over CDC vaccine panel

In a recent move, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Health Secretary known for his anti-vaccine stance, has revised the charter of a federal vaccine advisory committee, seemingly to enhance his authority over member selection and to relax existing membership criteria. This development was announced in a notice released today in the Federal Register. The changes come on the heels of a federal court ruling last month, where U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy temporarily halted the activities of advisors Kennedy had personally selected. This followed Kennedy's controversial decision to dismiss all 17 members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Judge Murphy determined that Kennedy's chosen advisors largely lacked the necessary expertise in relevant fields, which is a requirement under the current charter, and did not meet federal regulations that stipulate advisory committees must represent a diverse array of views within scientific communities. Judge Murphy emphasized, "A committee of non-experts cannot be said to embody ‘fairly balanced… points of view’ within the relevant scientific community." His ruling has effectively halted all ACIP operations and reversed Kennedy's recent changes to federal vaccine policy, which included the recommendation against COVID-19 vaccinations and the birth dose of the Hepatitis B vaccine—decisions that faced widespread criticism from medical and public health organizations. The newly revised charter appears to be Kennedy's attempt to realign ACIP with his views, having previously populated it with individuals who share his anti-vaccine ideology. Notably, the charter of ACIP is renewed every two years, with the last renewal period concluding on April 1, 2026. Historically, these renewal notices have been straightforward; however, this year’s updates introduced significant changes, particularly regarding the criteria for member selection. The renewal notice explicitly states that ACIP members “shall be selected and appointed by the HHS Secretary,” a modification that seems to solidify Kennedy's power to appoint members at will, potentially reshaping the advisory committee's future dynamics.