CDC vaccine panel delayed following RFK Jr.’s appointment as HHS chief

USA – Just days after Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took office as Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has postponed a major vaccine advisory meeting.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which typically meets three times a year, was originally scheduled for February 26-28 but has now been delayed.

In an emailed statement to FirstWord, HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon explained that the postponement was made “to accommodate public comment in advance of the meeting.”

He also assured that the ACIP workgroups had already met this month and that they would present their findings at a later date. However, no new schedule was provided.

Kennedy’s plans to investigate chronic disease causes

The delay comes as Kennedy informed his staff that he plans to investigate potential causes of chronic diseases in the US, including childhood vaccine schedules and antidepressant medications.

He stated that his goal is to “convene representatives of all viewpoints to study the causes for the drastic rise in chronic disease,” and noted that some of the factors under review were previously considered “taboo” or had not been thoroughly examined.

Reports of committee reshuffles

The postponement also coincides with reports that Kennedy is preparing to remove members from advisory committees that influence vaccine approvals and other major public health policies.

Politico cited sources suggesting that Kennedy intends to replace external advisors as part of his efforts to reduce industry influence over health agencies. However, this move contradicts the assurances Kennedy gave during his confirmation process.

Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who played a key role in securing votes for Kennedy’s appointment, previously stated that Kennedy had committed to not making changes to ACIP.

Impact on vaccine approvals

The ACIP meeting’s original agenda, still visible on the CDC’s website as of Thursday, included a discussion and vote on GSK’s newly approved pentavalent meningococcal vaccine, Penmenvy.

Following the postponement, GSK issued a statement warning that “delays to ACIP processes and recommendations can prevent access to FDA-approved vaccines, putting people at risk from preventable diseases.”

The meeting was also expected to include votes on Bavarian Nordic’s new chikungunya vaccine, Vimkunya, and a nasal spray version of AstraZeneca’s FluMist for influenza prevention.

Reports of job cuts at CDC and FDA

Meanwhile, there are reports of significant job losses at both the CDC and FDA. Sources indicate that around 700 employees were recently laid off from the CDC, with thousands more positions at risk.

The FDA is also expected to see hundreds of job cuts across divisions, though it is still unclear whether drug review teams will be affected.

With Kennedy at the helm of HHS, major policy shifts and restructuring within US health agencies appear to be underway, raising concerns about how they will impact public health decisions in the coming months.