Vaccine expert warns ‘science denialists’ now ‘making policy’ after RFK Jr. shakes up vaccine panel

Vaccine Policy & Public Health Concerns - The report highlights concerns that US vaccine policy is being reshaped by individuals with a history of spreading misinformation about vaccine safety, raising alarm within the medical community [1] - The FDA's top vaccine official limited the use of two COVID vaccines against the recommendations of agency medical experts [2] - The CDC's vaccine advisory committee, newly appointed, considered a presentation promoting the debunked claim linking a mercury-based preservative to autism [2] - There are worries about the erosion of the CDC, with some personnel leaving due to data misrepresentation or suppression [8] - The US withdrew from the global alliance vaccine initiative, a program that has vaccinated approximately 1 billion children and saved an estimated 20 million lives worldwide [11] Advisory Committee & Decision-Making - The previous 17 members of the ACIP advisory committee were replaced with individuals described as science denialists, antivaccine activists, and conspiracy theorists [5] - The current ACIP is characterized as an antivaccine committee, leading to concerns about bad recommendations [7] - Medical and scientific communities are largely ignoring the ACIP due to its recent anti-science decision regarding an influenza vaccine containing thiosol [9] - There are concerns that future vaccine advisory committees will lose credibility due to partisan influences [15] Potential Solutions & Future Outlook - Parallel advisory committees, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Foundation of Infectious Disease, are working with insurance companies to ensure coverage for recommended vaccines, even if the ACIP does not endorse them [7] - There is hope that a future HHS secretary or administration could reinstate previous policies and re-establish a science-based advisory committee [12][13]