Post Reports Inside RFK Jr.'s push to change vaccines in America
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Jul 1, 2025 
Lena Sun and Lauren Weber, talented health reporters from The Washington Post, delve into the recent upheaval in the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. They discuss the controversial fresh appointments by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and explore how skepticism towards vaccines could reshape U.S. vaccine policy. The duo exposes alarming shifts in vaccination protocols and the rising tension between public health experts and anti-vaccine sentiment, highlighting how these changes might affect community health and safety.
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ACIP's Crucial Role in Vaccines
- The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) sets vaccine schedules that affect school entry and insurance coverage in the U.S.
- ACIP's recommendations deeply influence public health policy and vaccine availability nationwide.
ACIP Changes Spark Concern
- RFK Jr. fired all 17 ACIP members and appointed 8 new ones within days, bypassing the usual vetting process.
- The new appointees lack the diverse vaccine expertise of their predecessors, raising expert concerns.
ACIP Meeting Procedures Disrupted
- Normally, vaccine agenda items are developed months in advance after thorough scientific review.
- The new ACIP panel introduced unvetted agenda topics spontaneously, causing alarm among experts.