Vaccines: Kennedy changes committee, former director accuses him of interference
On the eve of a decisive vote on vaccination recommendations, the health secretary appoints new members critical of immunisation, while the former head of the CoC speaks of forcing and 'ideology instead of data'
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Just days before a crucial meeting on vaccines, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is again at the centre of a political and institutional storm. On the one hand, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the appointment of five new members of the expert committee that is to formulate official recommendations on immunisation practices. On the other hand, former CDC director Susan Monarez, who was ousted in recent weeks, testified before the Senate denouncing undue pressure and political interference in vaccination policy-making.
Five new experts, but many sceptics among them
The new course of the CoC has taken shape in recent weeks: after decapitating the old panel by accusing it of conflicts of interest, Kennedy has included figures who have in the past expressed critical positions on vaccine requirements and anti-Covid measures. The new members include Catherine Stein, an epidemiologist at Case Western Reserve University who opposed mandates on vaccines, and Kirk Milhoan, a paediatric cardiologist who testified in court on alleged links between vaccines and cardiac deaths. Also with them were Evelyn Griffin, a gynaecologist opposed to compulsory anti-Covid vaccination, Ilaria Blackburn and Raymond Pollak.
Panel voting on Covid, hepatitis B and measles
On Thursday and Friday the renewed committee will meet for the first time in full. On the table are the latest data on vaccines against Covid-19, hepatitis B and measles-mumps-rubella (mpr). The vote on the recommendations will be crucial as it is traditionally followed by the CoC director for the adoption of official guidelines.
Monarez in Senate: 'Sacked for defending science'
As the panel prepared for its second session, the political scene shifted to the Senate. Susan Monarez, career microbiologist and until recently director of the CDC, accused Kennedy of removing her because she had refused to approve vaccine recommendations before verifying the scientific data. 'Even under pressure,' she said in the hearing, 'I could not replace evidence with ideology. Vaccine policy must be driven by credible data, not predetermined outcomes'.
Monarez spoke of a real ultimatum: either 'pre-approve' the guidelines drawn up by the new committee - composed of sceptical experts - or lose his job. He also denounced pressure to dismiss other officials without just cause.
