The Readout Loud 357: The upheaval of CDC's vaccine panel, and drug pricing confusion
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Jun 12, 2025 Kathryn Edwards, a vaccine expert and former member of the CDC advisory panel, joins to discuss the upheaval within the CDC's vaccine advisory group and its impact on public trust. She sheds light on the controversial new appointments and their implications for vaccine safety assessments. The conversation also addresses complexities in current drug pricing policies, including the challenges pharmaceutical companies face amid government guidelines. Additionally, they explore the struggles in manufacturing mRNA-based vaccines and the shift in public health dynamics.
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Rigorous CDC Vaccine Panel Vetting
- The CDC's ACIP advisory panel is a highly vetted, expert group essential for vaccine recommendations.
- It requires managing conflicts of interest carefully, including excusing conflicted members from votes.
CDC Officials Removal Harms Expertise
- Removal of CDC officials overseeing ACIP threatens loss of objectivity and institutional knowledge.
- Working groups on vaccine review lose leadership, undermining the advisory process.
Concerns Over New ACIP Members
- New ACIP members include some qualified experts but others lack vaccine expertise.
- Several new members have controversial or anti-vaccine views, raising concern about panel balance.