Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., on Tuesday named two experts in obstetrics and gynecology as the newest members of the U.S. CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).
The appointees are Adam Urato, a specialist in maternal-fetal medicine, and Kimberly Biss, a fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists whose publications include research on COVID-19 vaccine safety during pregnancy.
“Dr. Urato and Dr. Biss bring the scientific credentials, clinical experience, and integrity this committee requires,” RFK Jr. said in a statement.
The ACIP panel, which can include up to 19 members, meets three times a year to issue non-binding recommendations to the CDC regarding U.S. immunization policy. Their views play a key role in determining which vaccines are covered by health insurers at zero cost to the American public.
Secretary Kennedy fired all 17 ACIP members in June 2025, citing conflicts of interest and other concerns. He later appointed eight new members, and subsequently, one member withdrew from the committee just ahead of its June 25–26 meeting.
Just ahead of the ACIP’s Sept. 18–19 meeting, Kennedy named five new members to the panel, expanding it to 12.
Leading vaccine makers: Pfizer (PFE), AstraZeneca (AZN), Merck (MRK), GSK (GSK), Sanofi (SNY) (SNYNF), Moderna (MRNA), BioNTech (BNTX), and Novavax (NVAX)