Kennedy’s new vaccine panel down to seven members-reports

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy’s newly appointed CDC vaccine advisory panel reportedly has seven members now, after one departed ahead of the committee’s first meeting.

Earlier in the month, Kennedy Jr. announced eight new members to the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) after his abrupt removal of all 17 members of the panel.

Michael Ross has now withdrawn from the ACIP, Reuters reported, citing HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon.

The committee would have benefited from his service and expertise, Nixon added, as per the Reuters report.

The independent experts of the ACIP make non-binding recommendations, helping the CDC establish the U.S. vaccine policy and immunization schedule, which in turn determines which vaccines are covered by health insurers.

However, according to media reports, RFK Jr.’s ACIP selections include those who criticized messenger-RNA-based COVID-19 vaccines and social restrictions during the pandemic.

The panel of the CDC’s vaccine experts is expected to meet on June 25 and 26 to discuss recommendations related to the administration of measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) vaccines in children under the age of five, among other matters.

Leading vaccine makers: Sanofi (SNY), GSK (GSK)

COVID-19 vaccine makers: Pfizer (NYSE:PFE), BioNTech (NASDAQ:BNTX), Moderna (NASDAQ:MRNA), and Novavax (NASDAQ:NVAX)

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