Sen. Bernie Sanders , I-Vt., and a group of more than 30 medical associations have separately requested that the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee investigate the termination of the CDC’s vaccine advisory committee members.
Four things to know:
1. Mr. Sanders, a ranking member of the HELP committee, requested an inquiry into the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice’s overhaul in a June 16 letter to HELP Chairman Bill Cassidy, R-La.
“Secretary Kennedy’s reckless decision to fire these nonpartisan scientific experts and replace them with ideologues with limited expertise and a history of undermining vaccines will not only endanger the lives of Americans of all ages, it directly contradicts a commitment he made to you before he was confirmed that he would not make any significant changes to this important Committee,” Mr. Sanders wrote.
2. Mr. Sanders’ letter came six days after the American Medical Association passed an emergency resolution June 10 at its annual meeting, urging the HELP committee to investigate the terminations and calling for an immediate reversal of the group’s overhaul. More than 30 medical associations backed the resolution, including the American College of Physicians, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics and Infectious Diseases Society of America.
3. ACIP’s eight new members, appointed June 11, are set to hold their first meeting June 25. The draft agenda, posted to the CDC’s website June 19, suggests the new members will skip previously expected items, including a vote on COVID-19 vaccines and a review of policy proposals for HPV and meningococcal bacteria vaccines, according to NBC News.
In a newly added agenda item, ACIP will vote on the use of thimerosal, a mercury-containing preservative used in multidose flu shot vials. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has previously claimed a link between the ingredient and autism, though no study has confirmed this. Alongside the use of thimerosal, ACIP will also vote on fall flu shots and RSV vaccines for pregnant women and children.
4. Medical associations have strongly opposed ACIP’s overhaul, arguing the move will undermine vaccine confidence and threaten public health. Meanwhile, Mr. Kennedy has said the changes were necessary to restore public trust in vaccine science and ensure ACIP has no conflict of interest with pharmaceutical companies.
