Immunize Colorado joins professional groups across the U.S. in alarm and dissent to the Secretary of HHS, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.ās, decision to fire all 17 sitting Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) members and replace them with new members. ACIP members are among the most knowledgeable and experienced medical and public health experts in the world, and they are thoroughly vetted through an independent, nonpartisan process for their capabilities and any conflicts of interest before being appointed. The recommendations they make about vaccines are carefully considered and involve meticulous review of the available data. All of their meetings are publicly streamed and open to public comment, and their conflict of interest disclosures are publicly available.
This decision is concerning on many levels, chief among them that it casts unfounded doubt on a scientific and transparent expert review process that has worked for over 60 years to unify vaccine guidance and build trust. Now, ACIP may not be held to the same rigorous standards and could be vulnerable to political intrusion which could further exacerbate vaccine misinformation. The decision also has implications for vaccine access. ACIP recommendations determine which vaccines will be recommended and therefore covered by both public and private insurance programs. If ACIP guidance is eliminated or politically driven, it could result in some vaccines being removed from the vaccine schedule and left uncovered by insurance, forcing people to either pay high out-of-pocket costs or forgo the vaccines necessary to protect them from disease. It could also leave providers with conflicting guidance, making them uncertain of how to best care for their patients. Vaccination rates are already declining across the U.S., and this will likely result in further decreases that leave our communities vulnerable.
This deeply scary and dangerous decision is just one in a slew of many made recently by RFK Jr., the very person charged with safeguarding the nation’s health. Instead, this decision does the opposite and will no doubt sow confusion, uncertainty, and mistrust about one of the world’s most incredible, impactful public health achievements: vaccines.