DeepNewz, mobile.
People-sourced. AI-powered. Unbiased News.
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. this week dismissed all 17 members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the group that sets nationwide vaccination guidelines. Kennedy said the unprecedented purge was necessary to “restore public trust” and eliminate what he described as long-standing financial conflicts of interest on the panel. Two days later, on 11 June, the secretary named eight replacements, reducing the panel’s size and immediately drawing scrutiny because several appointees are prominent critics of Covid-19 shots and other vaccines. The new roster includes physician-researcher Robert W. Malone, biostatistician Martin Kulldorff, operations-management professor Retsef Levi and five other doctors and academics. Kennedy indicated additional members may be added and told Senator Bill Cassidy he would allow the senator to nominate one candidate. Medical organizations reacted sharply. The American Medical Association, joined by other public-health groups, urged the Senate to investigate, arguing the shake-up jeopardizes decades of progress against vaccine-preventable diseases. Former Surgeon General Jerome Adams warned the move could reduce childhood-immunization rates, while state health departments in Illinois and Wisconsin said the firings risk undermining public confidence. Conflict-of-interest questions quickly surfaced. Reuters reported that at least two appointees, including Malone, had received thousands of dollars as expert witnesses for plaintiffs challenging Merck’s Gardasil vaccine. Critics say the selections contradict Kennedy’s stated goal of removing conflicted advisers, while supporters contend the overhaul will bring fresh perspectives to a committee they view as too close to industry. ACIP recommendations influence everything from pediatric vaccine schedules to insurance coverage and school-entry requirements. With the committee set to review updated Covid-19 and routine immunization guidance later this year, public-health experts caution that the panel’s new composition could reshape U.S. vaccination policy and access in ways that remain highly uncertain.
OptionProbability
2
2
2
1
1
OptionProbability
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
98
96
95
89
87
85
85
80
79
78
76
75
75
73
73
72
72
72
72
71
65
64
64
63
63
62
62
60
57
56
56
55
55
55
54
52
51
50
50
50
47
46
45
45
44
44
41
40
39
39
39
39
39
38
37
37
36
36
34
34
33
33
33
33
32
32
32
32
31
31
31
31
30
28
27
26
25
24
23
23
23
21
21
20
18
18
15
15
14
13
12
11
10
10
10
8
8
7
6
6
6
3
2
2
0
0
OptionProbability
96
95
95
94
89
79
75
75
73
63
55
49
48
46
46
44
44
40
34
34
33
32
31
31
27
27
26
26
25
22
21
20
18
17
12
11
6
1
1
OptionProbability
94
94
84
83
81
41
25
18
OptionVotes
1013
876
OptionVotes
1020
957
OptionVotes
1638
911
OptionProbability
288
227
OptionVotes
238
42
OptionVotes
279
180
OptionProbability
80
69
68
36
OptionVotes
111
90
