Kennedy Appoints New ACIP Members with Vaccine Skepticism Backgrounds Ahead of Crucial Meeting
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has named five new members to the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), sparking controversy due to several appointees' documented histories of vaccine and COVID-19 skepticism. This development comes just days before a critical ACIP meeting scheduled to discuss and make recommendations on various vaccines, including COVID-19.
New ACIP Appointees and Their Backgrounds
The newly appointed members include:
- Kirk Milhoan, medical director of For Hearts and Souls Free Medical Clinic in Hawaii
- Catherine Stein, epidemiology researcher from Case Western Reserve University
- Evelyn Griffin, obstetrician and gynecologist at Baton Rouge General Hospital
- Hillary Blackburn, director at AscensionRx and podcast host
- Raymond Pollak, surgeon and transplant specialist
Notably, some of these appointees have previously expressed anti-vaccine views. Catherine Stein was labeled a "COVID-19 truther" by the Ohio Capital Journal in 2021 for downplaying the severity of the pandemic. Both Milhoan and Griffin participated in events in 2024 that cast doubt on public health measures to curb the virus, including vaccines, according to CNN reporting.
Upcoming ACIP Meeting and COVID-19 Focus
The ACIP is set to convene later this week for a two-day meeting, with the entire second day dedicated to COVID-19 discussions. The agenda includes:
- An update on COVID-19 vaccine safety, to be presented by CDC scientist John Su
- Additional COVID-19 vaccine safety presentations from yet-to-be-revealed speakers
Vaccine Developers' Limited Participation
In an unexpected move, the ACIP appears to be distancing itself from vaccine manufacturers. According to anonymous sources cited by Endpoints News, major COVID-19 vaccine developers Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax will be given only a few minutes to provide updates on their products. Furthermore, their presentations must first be reviewed by the ACIP and HHS for transparency purposes.
This development marks a significant shift in the committee's approach to stakeholder involvement and raises questions about the future direction of vaccine policy and recommendations in the United States.
References
- Kennedy Names New ACIP Members as Panel Quiets COVID-19 Vaccine Developers Ahead of Meeting
Like the first batch of appointees to the CDC's vaccine advisory committee, several of the new panelists have documented histories of vaccine and COVID-19 skepticism.
Explore Further
What are the professional qualifications and specific accomplishments of the newly appointed ACIP members that justified their selection?
Have there been similar controversies or patterns in ACIP personnel changes in recent years, and what were the outcomes?
What mechanisms are in place to ensure unbiased decision-making during the upcoming ACIP meeting, given the concerns about vaccine skepticism among the new appointees?
How does the limited participation of COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers impact the ACIP’s decision-making process and transparency?
What has been the historical role of stakeholder involvement, including that of vaccine manufacturers, in ACIP meetings, and how does this new policy differ?