There is going to be an overhaul for a group of people that are responsible for vaccine safety recommendations at the federal level.

Sources say that US Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently announced that all 17 members of the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will be replacing them with his own individuals. According to the CDC, the ACIP makes recommendations on the safety, efficacy and clinical needs of a vaccine.

Greene County Public Health Director Shelby Cooklin tells Raccoon Valley Radio that this is a unique situation for the ACIP to have all of its members replaced at the same time. She states some concerns are the implications of public trust and the integrity of the vaccination process.

“ACIP plays a vital role in evaluating vaccine safety and effectiveness, and their decisions directly impact public health policy. It’s crucial that their work remains grounded in science and a full replacement could disrupt the balance and undermine confidence in vaccines.” 

Cooklin adds that it is more typical to have ACIP members rotating off committees in staggered terms to preserve institutional knowledge and consistency.