NEW YORK (AP) – U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appointed eight new vaccine policy advisors on Wednesday, abruptly replacing a panel that had been dismissed earlier this week.
The new members include scientists who have examined mRNA vaccine technology and have voiced criticisms of Covid-19 vaccines, prominent opponents of pandemic-era lockdowns, and a respected operational management professor with conservative leanings.
Kennedy’s choice to “resign” from the 17-member advisory board on prior vaccination practices has drawn considerable backlash from various physicians and public health organizations. There are concerns that the new advisors may reconsider years of vaccination guidelines, potentially leading to a shift away from established practices.
Before revealing the new appointments on Tuesday, Kennedy stated:
The appointed individuals include Vicky Pebsworth, the regional director of the National Association of Catholic Nurses. She is also an executive and volunteer director of the National Vaccine Information Centre, a group widely seen as a leading source of vaccine misinformation.
Another appointee is Dr. Robert Malone, a former mRNA researcher who served as Kennedy’s close advisor during a measles outbreak. Malone, who operates a wellness lab and maintains a popular blog, gained prominence during the Covid-19 pandemic for discussing conspiracy theories related to the outbreak and subsequent vaccines. He has been featured on various podcasts and conservative media, promoting unverified alternative treatments for measles and COVID-19.
Malone claims that millions of Americans have been led to take Covid-19 shots, suggesting that these vaccines could eventually lead to AIDS. He has also downplayed fatalities associated with one of the largest measles outbreaks in the U.S. in recent years.
Malone assured The Associated Press that he would strive to “serve with fair objectivity and rigor.”
Other appointees include Dr. Martin Kulldorf, a biostatistician and epidemiologist who co-authored the Great Barrington Declaration. Dr. Cody Maisner, a former ACIP member, has also been appointed.
Abram Wagner from the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health, who is investigating vaccination programs, expressed dissatisfaction with the committee’s makeup. He stated, “Previously, ACIP was comprised of technical experts who dedicated their careers to studying vaccines.” He noted that most people on the current roster “lack the technical proficiency expected from those making intricate decisions based on complex scientific data.”
Wagner criticized Pebsworth’s inclusion as “incredibly problematic,” citing her affiliation with an organization that “distributes a lot of misinformation.”
Kennedy shared social media posts on Wednesday.
The committee, established in 1964, provides recommendations to the executives of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC directors typically endorse recommendations regarding the utilization of vaccines approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The CDC’s final recommendations are widely followed by physicians and serve as guides for vaccination programs.
Other appointees are:
– Dr. James Hibel, previously head of the National Institute of Health, who focuses on nutrition neuroscience and its effects on the brain, including the potential benefits of seafood during pregnancy.
– Retsef Levi, a professor of operational management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who studies business-related issues concerning supply chains, logistics, pricing, and health management. In a 2023 video posted on his X profile, Levi advocated for the termination of the Covid-19 vaccination program, asserting that the vaccine is both ineffective and dangerous despite evidence indicating they saved millions of lives. Levi informed the AP that he aims to inform public health policies through data and science to enhance people’s well-being and restore public trust.
– Dr. James Pagano, a physician based in Los Angeles.
– Dr. Michael Ross, an obstetrician and gynecologist from Virginia who previously served on the CDC Breast and Cervical Cancer Advisory Committee. He is referred to as the “serial CEO and physician leader” of bio at Havencrest Capital Management, a private equity firm.
Among Kennedy’s eight appointees, Dr. Meissner stands out as the most seasoned vaccine policy expert, being a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.
During his five-year term as an FDA advisor, the committee was repeatedly tasked with reviewing and voting on the safety and efficacy of the Covid-19 vaccine, which had been hastily developed to address the pandemic. In September 2021, he was among the majority of panelists who voted against a Biden administration plan to offer additional vaccine doses to all American adults, instead recommending that extra doses be restricted to older individuals and those at elevated risk of illness.
Ultimately, the FDA disregarded the panel’s recommendations and authorized additional vaccine doses for all adults.
In addition to his role on governmental panels, Meissner has backed policy statements and vaccination schedules from the American Academy of Pediatrics authors.
Typically, ACIP members serve staggered four-year terms, although there have been delays in appointments during the Biden administration prior to last year’s positions being filled. All voting members should possess scientific or clinical expertise in vaccinations, with the exception of one “consumer representative” who can offer perspectives related to community and social aspects of the vaccination program.
Kennedy, a prominent anti-vaccine advocate before his appointment as the top health official in the U.S. government, has accused the committee of being closely aligned with vaccine manufacturers and endorsing vaccines without scrutiny. The ACIP policy mandates that members disclose any past collaborations with vaccine companies and abstain from votes where conflicts of interest exist; however, Kennedy has dismissed these safeguards as ineffective.
Jason Schwartz, a health policy researcher at Yale University, remarked, “Most individuals with the best understanding of vaccines are those who study them and often require some level of collaboration with the companies that develop and market them.” He added, “If you exclude reputable, respected vaccine experts who have engaged with the vaccine industry to any extent, you’re likely to end up with a very limited pool of candidates.”
The U.S. Senate confirmed Kennedy in February after he pledged not to alter the vaccination schedule. However, within a week, he vowed to investigate pediatric vaccines that prevent measles, polio, and other serious diseases.
Kennedy has overlooked several recommendations that ACIP voted on in April, including the approval of a new combination vaccine for five strains of meningococcal bacteria and expanded vaccinations against RSV.
In late May, Kennedy disregarded the committee’s guidance by announcing that the government would revise its recommendations for children and pregnant women to receive a Covid-19 vaccine.
On Monday, Kennedy declared he would replace all 17 ACIP members and appoint a new group before the scheduled meeting in late June. The agenda for that meeting has not yet been released, but the recent Federal Notice indicates that voting is expected on vaccines for influenza, Covid-19, HPV, RSV, and meningococcal bacteria.
A HHS spokesperson did not respond to inquiries about whether there are only eight ACIP members or if more will be announced later.
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Associated Press reporters Matthew Pelon, Amanda Seitz, Devi Shastri, and Laura Unger contributed to this report.
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Source: apnews.com