Catching Up: Federal Vaccine Advisory Committee Overhauls Recommendations and Faces Scrutiny
The ACIP meeting was marked by chaos, inexperienced panelists, and criticism from public health experts for lacking expertise, ignoring established scientific methods, and politicizing health policy.
Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Overview
Date: September 19-20, 2025
Summary: A newly appointed federal vaccine advisory committee has initiated significant changes to national vaccine recommendations, particularly for Covid-19, measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV), and hepatitis B. The committee voted to shift Covid-19 vaccine guidance towards “shared clinical decision-making” for all ages, emphasizing consultation with a health care provider rather than a broad recommendation. They also rescinded a recommendation for the combined MMRV vaccine for children under four and postponed a vote on delaying the hepatitis B vaccine for newborns. These meetings were marked by chaos, inexperience among new panelists, and intense criticism from public health experts who accuse the panel of lacking expertise, ignoring established scientific methods, and politicizing public health policy. Kennedy’s approval ratings are reportedly declining amidst these controversial changes.
Sources
CNN - RFK Jr.’s poll numbers turn sour as he targets vaccines
The New York Times - Kennedy’s Vaccine Panel Votes to Limit Access to Covid Shots
NBC News - CDC panel votes to limit who is eligible for this fall’s Covid vaccine
NBC News - In an unorthodox move, CDC vaccine advisers table a vote on hepatitis B
The Washington Post - Vaccine panel that limited covid shot scrutinized after chaotic meetings
The Wall Street Journal - What to Know After the Whirlwind Meeting by RFK Jr.’s Vaccine Panel
Fox News - CDC panel supports ‘individual decision-making’ on COVID vaccines, keeps access open
Key Points
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), newly appointed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., voted to shift Covid-19 vaccine recommendations from a broad endorsement to “shared clinical decision-making,” requiring consultation with a health care provider for all age groups.
The panel rescinded its recommendation for the combined measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) vaccine for children under four years old, instead suggesting separate shots.
The ACIP postponed a scheduled vote on recommendations for the hepatitis B vaccine for newborns, citing concerns over safety, effectiveness, and timing, and a lack of clear evidence.
The meetings were widely described as chaotic, disorganized, and contentious, with new members appearing unprepared and at times confused about procedures and data.
Public health experts and medical organizations expressed strong criticism of the new panel’s conduct, lack of expertise, and abandonment of established scientific evaluation methods, warning of negative public health consequences.
Many of the new ACIP members are noted critics of Covid-19 vaccines or vaccine mandates, appointed after Kennedy purged the previous panel.
A proposal to require a prescription for Covid-19 vaccines failed to pass, ensuring that access remains open through health care providers without this additional barrier.
Unique Highlights
CNN (RFK Jr.’s poll numbers turn sour): Provides detailed polling data indicating Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s declining approval ratings (Washington Post-Ipsos: 55%-42% disapproval; CBS News-YouGov: 55-45% disapproval) and low public trust in him regarding vaccines (KFF: 63% “not much” or “no confidence”). It also notes that 70% of Americans support government policy encouraging childhood vaccinations for diseases like measles, mumps, and rubella.
The New York Times: Reports a “hot microphone caught one panelist calling another committee member ‘an idiot’” during the chaotic meetings. It also details specific scientific arguments made by panelist Dr. Robert Malone against Dr. Natalie Thornburg (from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) regarding the lack of clear evidence for antibody levels needed for Covid-19 protection.
CNN (CDC advisers vote that patients must consult): Cites legal experts like Dr. Dorit Reiss who noted that changing the vaccine information statement (VIS) is beyond ACIP’s authority, requiring a different Centers for Disease Control and Prevention process. It also mentions AHIP (America’s Health Insurance Plans) pledged its members would continue to cover ACIP-recommended immunizations at no cost through the end of 2026.
NBC News (CDC panel votes to limit): Reports that the panel chose not to vote on whether to recommend the Covid shot for pregnant women, deferring the decision to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials. It also details specific “fringe ideas” discussed, such as claims that Covid vaccines can lead to cancer or birth defects, and mentions Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo’s claims about mRNA vaccines altering DNA.
NBC News (In an unorthodox move): Highlights the role of specific ACIP members, Robert Malone and Vicky Pebsworth, who have a history of sharing misinformation about vaccines, in pushing back on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. It also references a 2012 Institute of Medicine report that couldn’t determine if hepatitis B vaccines were associated with brain inflammation.
The Washington Post: Notes that former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Susan Monarez was fired after refusing Kennedy’s demand to preapprove the committee’s recommendations. It also cites Dr. Elizabeth Jacobs, professor emeritus of epidemiology, stating that none of the nation’s eight vaccine surveillance programs have detected an increase in cancer rates post-vaccination, directly refuting claims made by some panelists. The article includes an anecdote from pediatrician David Higgins about families becoming hesitant about routine MMR vaccination due to news and social media reports on the ACIP meetings.
The Wall Street Journal: Mentions the committee abandoned a “labor-intensive process known as the ‘evidence-to-recommendations framework’” which required scientific evidence to be rated on quality, a move that drew rebuke from liaisons. It also quotes Dr. Paul Offit, an infectious-disease physician, lamenting that the new committee’s role is “just a matter of trying to reduce the damage.”
Fox News: Quotes Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention acting Director Jim O’Neill commending the committee “for bringing overdue scientific debate on vaccination to the American people.”
Contrasting Details
Panel’s Self-Assessment vs. External Criticism: ACIP Chairman Martin Kulldorff stated the panel possessed “enormous depth and knowledge about vaccines, about science” (The Washington Post) and that the “level of scientific discussions… is far above what we’ve seen in the past” (The Washington Post, quoting Retsef Levi). In contrast, medical associations and scientific experts “panned the panel’s performance” (The Washington Post), saying members were unprepared, misunderstood data, and lacked expertise (The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal). Dr. Sandra Fryhofer (American Medical Association liaison) expressed concern about “the erosion of the committee’s integrity” (The Washington Post).
Purpose of Hepatitis B Vote: Some ACIP members, like Dr. Robert Malone, argued the committee took up hepatitis B because “a significant population” has concerns about vaccine policy (NBC News), and Joseph Hibbeln stated, “We are more prudent when we are cautious” (The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal). However, many public health experts questioned the need for a vote without new data to analyze (NBC News), and Dr. Cody Meissner, a pediatrician on the panel, asserted that the benefit of the vaccine “far outweighs any adverse side effect” (NBC News, The Wall Street Journal).
Hepatitis B Testing Recommendation: The ACIP voted to recommend that all pregnant women be tested for hepatitis B (CNN, NBC News, The Washington Post). However, experts noted that this is “already routine practice and falls outside the purview of the CDC panel” (The Washington Post), and “hepatitis testing is already part of recommended routine care during pregnancy” (CNN).
MMRV Vaccine Recommendations: The panel initially voted on Thursday to recommend against the combined MMRV vaccine for young children but also voted to continue its coverage under the Vaccines for Children program, creating a contradiction (The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal). This was described as a “first for the panel” (The New York Times) and “conflicting” (CNN), leading to a redo vote on Friday to align the recommendations (The New York Times, CNN, The Wall Street Journal).
Covid-19 Vaccine Prescription Requirement: Dr. Retsef Levi pressed for a prescription requirement, stating, “Since we are not talking about an emergency situation, we think it’s appropriate to bring it to something that is being discussed between a physician or medical provider and a patient” (Fox News). Conversely, Dr. Cody Meissner strongly opposed it, arguing, “Requiring a prescription is going to become a big barrier to administration of this vaccine” (Fox News). The proposal ultimately failed (CNN, Fox News, The Washington Post).
Evaluation of Vaccine Safety Data: ACIP members pushed back on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention staff presentations, citing individual studies and anecdotes that they said raised questions about neuro-developmental side effects and vaccine injuries (NBC News, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal). Dr. Retsef Levi stated that assessments of vaccine effectiveness were “based on very low-quality data” and vaccine injuries were “demonstrably not recognized” (The New York Times, The Washington Post). In contrast, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention staff and representatives from major medical organizations like the American Medical Association affirmed the vaccines are safe and effective (The New York Times). Dr. Cody Meissner stated that irritability or fussiness in infants “are certainly not objective parameters that should be used to assess safety” (NBC News).
Impact on Vaccine Access: While the ACIP’s shift to “shared clinical decision-making” was presented by Fox News as “keeping access open” and ensuring coverage through payment programs, other sources highlighted concerns. Dr. Dorit Reiss (University of California, San Francisco) warned it “will create substantial confusion, and it will decrease uptake” (CNN), and Dr. Demetre Daskalakis noted it “assumes health care and insurance,” which are not universally available (CNN). NBC News reported that “healthy kids and adults looking for an updated Covid shot this fall may have a tougher time getting it.”
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