ACIP Agenda Shift Under Kennedy Raises Questions About Vaccine Policy Direction

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has released a revised agenda for its upcoming June 25–26 meeting, indicating a shift in focus and priorities under new leadership. The changes follow an overhaul of the panel by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who now leads the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Earlier this month, Kennedy dismissed all 17 sitting members of the ACIP, citing the need to rebuild public confidence in the committee and its decisions. According to Kennedy, the intention behind this move was to restore trust in the ACIP beyond any particular stance on vaccines. In his words, the goal was to improve public faith in the panel, which he claimed had been weakened by longstanding conflicts of interest.

Kennedy has since appointed new members to the committee, some of whom have been connected to vaccine litigation and the circulation of misinformation about mRNA vaccines. With the newly formed group in place, the upcoming ACIP meeting agenda reflects a clear departure from prior expectations.

According to the updated plan, the committee will forgo scheduled votes on recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines, adult RSV protection, and potential adjustments to the HPV vaccine dosing regimen. These votes had been anticipated by multiple stakeholders, including companies such as BioNTech, Merck & Co., Pfizer, Sanofi, Novavax, and Moderna. Instead, the meeting will now feature decisions on infant and maternal RSV preventive measures, as well as influenza vaccines. Non-voting discussions will still occur for COVID-19, chikungunya, anthrax, and the MMRV vaccine group.

Leerink Partners analysts remarked that the revised agenda “extends uncertainty on the more controversial vaccine recommendation votes.” They also noted that the discussion on influenza vaccines will focus on products that contain thimerosal, a preservative historically—and incorrectly—linked to autism. Thimerosal was removed from most pediatric vaccines more than two decades ago and has not been found to be unsafe.

The inclusion of thimerosal on the agenda may carry consequences for multidose influenza vaccines from companies like Sanofi and CSL Seqirus, analysts pointed out. Tina Tan, president of the Infectious Disease Society of America, stated, “If the committee votes to remove thimerosal from vaccines, manufacturers will have to create and ship single doses, which some manufacturers may not be able to do.”

Kennedy has previously identified thimerosal as a concern in a 2014 publication and has voiced intentions to investigate the causes of the country’s “autism epidemic” by September as part of a broader HHS initiative. Industry observers note that the committee’s current focus on thimerosal could offer early signs of how it may approach similar discussions regarding vaccine ingredients and safety.

Additionally, reports suggest Kennedy is also interested in re-evaluating the use of aluminum in vaccines. Aluminum, a common adjuvant designed to enhance immune response, is present in numerous vaccines recommended for children and infants. Mizuho Securities analysts wrote that they believe the evidence supports the continued use of aluminum adjuvants and anticipate that any review would likely confirm their safety.

The revised ACIP meeting follows a period of upheaval. Following their removal, the former committee members published a statement in JAMA warning that Kennedy’s actions could jeopardize the progress made in U.S. immunization policy. They argued that the restructuring could impede access to essential vaccines and put public health at risk.

As preparations for the meeting proceed, the CDC is working to brief the newly appointed panel members, whose selection occurred shortly before the agenda shift. The meeting has also been shortened to allow time for onboarding, according to internal CDC communications cited by STAT News.