PPC Update

June 20, 2025

RFK JR OVERHAULS CDC VACCINE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. On June 9, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the abrupt removal of all 17 voting members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). ACIP reviews scientific data on vaccines and provides recommendations to the CDC for developing the adult and childhood immunization schedules. ACIP’s recommendations are crucial for shaping vaccination policies in the US.

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has a long history of anti-vaccine activism, defended the decision in an op-ed piece, claiming that ACIP had become “plagued with consistent conflicts of interest” and that their removals are needed to restore public faith in vaccines. Two days after the announcement, HHS named eight new members to the committee. The newly appointed committee members consist of individuals with a history of voicing skepticism about vaccines and those who have been involved in spreading vaccine disinformation. ACIP’s voting members have historically consisted of independent medical and public health experts who have undergone an extensive vetting process that can last anywhere from a few months up to two years. This lengthy process ensures that appointed members have the necessary scientific expertise and in-depth knowledge of vaccines and immunization.

Recently terminated committee members have warned that these actions threaten to roll back progress in US vaccination policy and impact access to lifesaving immunizations for vulnerable families and children. These moves already come after HHS leaders recently removed COVID-19 vaccines from the routine immunization schedules for pregnant people and healthy children. However, subsequent guidance from the CDC allows for shared clinical decision-making for COVID-19 vaccination in children ages 6 months to 17 years who are not immunocompromised. Following these announcements, the PPC organizations joined a sign-on letter to Secretary Kennedy seeking clarity on the department’s decision-making and urging the agency to work more closely with ACIP going forward.

The next ACIP meeting is scheduled for June 25-27. The agenda includes votes on vaccines for COVID-19, HPV, flu, meningococcal disease and respiratory syncytial virus, all of which have been under discussion and review for months by the terminated members.

– Advocacy Opportunity. Please consider contacting your representative to urge them to cosponsor the Family Vaccine Protection Act. Introduced by Representatives Kim Schrier (D-Wash.) and Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), the bill would codify the structure and functions of ACIP, ensuring that its role in recommending the use of vaccines for children and adults is not circumvented by unilateral decisions by federal health officials.

Right now is a critical time for Congress to hear directly from academic pediatricians about the need to protect the vital, independent role of ACIP in developing evidence-based recommendations, informed by medical expertise – and free from political interference.

Here’s how to contact your Representatives:

  • By Phone: You can call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 to be connected to your representative’s office. You also can find your U.S. representative by going to House.gov and using the “Find Your Representative” feature at the top right of the page.
  • By Email: You can also send emails to your representatives using the contact form on their websites.

Email text:

Subject: Cosponsor the Family Vaccine Protection Act

As an academic pediatrician, I urge you to support the Family Vaccine Protection Act (H.R.3701).

It is critical that we protect the vital, independent role of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) in providing evidence-based guidance, informed by medical expertise, to keep children and families healthy.

As an academic pediatrician, I see first-hand the critical role of vaccinations in keeping children, families and communities healthy and preventing the spread of diseases. We know that when children are protected, they can focus on growing, learning and doing what they love to do, while on their path to becoming happy, healthy adults. Pediatricians and other health care professionals rely on the evidence-based information from ACIP to help guide conversations with families about the importance of vaccination.

Right now, families need clarity and information about their health based on what the science and evidence shows. The Family Vaccine Protection Act would help make that possible, which is why I urge you to support this important legislation.

Thank you for all you do for the children in our community.