Vaccine makers steady despite RFK Jr.’s removal of CDC expert panel

In another controversial move, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has abruptly fired all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or the ACIP, of the CDC following an op-ed piece in The Wall Street Journal.

RFK Jr.’s dismantling of the committee that reviews vaccine data and makes crucial recommendations on the U.S. immunization programs comes at a time when biopharma stocks are already under pressure by the decisions taken by the new administration.

Since taking over HHS, Kennedy, a well-known vaccine skeptic, has demanded more stringent testing for vaccines currently under development and announced tighter regulations related to the administration of COVID-19 shots.

Last month, in a post on X, RFK Jr. said that COVID-19 shots will no longer be recommended for healthy pregnant women and children. The announcement contrasted with the CDC’s established practice of issuing such guidance after obtaining ACIP’s views.

However, COVID-19 vaccine makers like Pfizer (PFE), BioNTech (BNTX), Moderna (NASDAQ:MRNA), and Novavax (NASDAQ:NVAX), as well as leading vaccine manufacturers GSK (GSK) and Sanofi (SNY), traded flat after RFK Jr.’s latest decision.

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