Context:

Seventeen experts removed from the U.S. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices express concern over the new direction of vaccine policy under U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who accused the previous panel of being too aligned with vaccine manufacturers. Kennedy's new committee, composed of several vaccine skeptics, is criticized for abandoning rigorous scientific review and open deliberation, as evidenced by their first meeting's focus on a controversial preservative without considering opposing scientific data. The ousted members, in their commentary, suggest forming an alternative to the current committee to protect scientifically sound vaccine recommendations, possibly through collaboration between professional organizations or external auditing. Challenges include ensuring access to accurate data and determining health insurers' coverage of vaccines recommended by any new body. The former committee members emphasize the importance of maintaining a trusted, unbiased structure for vaccine policy to prevent destabilization and harm to public health initiatives.

Dive Deeper:

• Seventeen experts were removed from the U.S. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who criticized them for being too close to vaccine manufacturers and replaced them with individuals, including vaccine skeptics.

• Kennedy's new committee is accused of disregarding rigorous scientific review, as demonstrated by their first meeting, which focused on the controversial preservative thimerosal without considering the CDC's analysis that found no link to neurodevelopmental disorders.

• In a commentary, the ousted members call for the establishment of an alternative committee to ensure scientifically sound vaccine recommendations, suggesting collaboration between professional organizations or external auditing as possible solutions.

• Challenges to establishing an alternative body include ensuring access to the best data and determining whether health insurers will cover vaccines recommended by groups other than ACIP, potentially affecting vaccine uptake.

• The dismissed experts warn of the potential destabilization of vaccine policy and emphasize the need for a trusted, unbiased advisory structure to maintain public health and confidence in vaccination programs.