Stacking Vaccine Skeptic Panel: Kennedy Jr.'s Novel CDC Advisory Committee
Kennedy Junior forms panel featuring vaccine skeptic advocates.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the current U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary, has shaken up the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) by axing its original 17 members and replacing them with controversial skeptics, as reported by sources like the "Washington Post".
The Sketchy New Trio
Eager to breathe fresh life into the dismantled committee, Kennedy has appointed three individuals with a history of expressing contrasting views on the effectiveness and safety of mRNA vaccines. These figures include:
- Martin Kulldorff, who previously advocated for embracing herd immunity by allowing widespread Coronavirus infections, and had criticized lockdowns and school closures.
- Robert Malone, an early researcher of mRNA technology who has since been vocal in his criticism of vaccinations and has made unsubstantiated claims that individuals who have already had Covid might face higher risks due to vaccination.
Thelimbo of Expertise
Dorit Reiss, a vaccine policy professor at UC Law in San Francisco, expressed skepticism about Kennedy's choices, telling US Radio NPR: "Kennedy hasn't chosen people who have solid and up-to-date knowledge about vaccines. That tells me that Kennedy is putting together a committee that is skeptical of vaccines and may be willing to implement an anti-vaccine agenda.”
A Regime Change
Kennedy has long cast doubt on the safety and effectiveness of vaccines, often at odds with the scientific consensus. The health minister's aggressive claims, however, contradict valid scientific findings. In the past, Kennedy has accused the ACIP of being riddled with conflicts and full of vendors who had never rejected a vaccine. However, all potential conflicts of interest, as well as relevant business interests, leadership positions, or other connections to organizations, are required to be disclosed by the ACIP members.
From Experts to Skeptics: The Silent Handover
Traditionally, experts drawn from clinical medicine have populated the ACIP, with a vetting process that can take up to two years to complete, thorough conflict checks included. It remains unclear whether the standard selection procedures were followed during the recent shakeup or if the steering committee was bypassed in the process, as career CDC staff overseeing ACIP have reportedly been removed.
FAQ
Q: Who are the new appointees to CDC's ACIP under RFK Jr.?
A: Martin Kulldorff, Robert Malone, and others with skeptical views regarding mRNA vaccines.
Q: What's the process for selecting new ACIP members?
A: A rigorous, extensive vetting process, involving conflict checks, typically taking up to two years to complete.
Q: How has Kennedy justified his replacements on the CDC advisory committee?
A: Kennedy argues that his selections represent a move to restore public trust in vaccines, emphasizing unbiased research and transparency.
- The community policy and employment policy decisions made by the new CDC Advisory Committee, led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., may reflect the skepticism towards vaccines and mRNA technology held by its members, such as Martin Kulldorff and Robert Malone.
- The transition from experts in clinical medicine to vaccine skeptics in the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has sparked concern within the scientific community, with Dorit Reiss raising questions about the new members' knowledge and potential adherence to an anti-vaccine agenda.
- As the focus on science, medical-conditions, health-and-wellness, and politics shifts, the general public should be mindful of the new ACIP members' stance on vaccines, and their potential impact on employment policy and community policy decisions related to public health.
