While our attention is understandably on the gross violations of civil liberties by ICE and a possible war with NATO over Greenland, Kennedy quietly laid more track to achieve his eventual goal of wholesale elimination of several vaccines this week. How?
Last week he expanded the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) – adding two new voting members, both of which have publicly stated that they are now anti-vaccine.
Up until now, ACIP has provided evidence-based guidance on vaccine recommendations that shape clinical practice and determines insurance coverage for immunizations in the US.
A few months ago Kennedy dismissed all members appointed under the previous administrations and began installing new appointees who are aligned with his anti-vaccine beliefs.
The new ACIP nearly removed COVID-19 vaccination from the adult immunization schedule which would have undermined universal coverage, but the committee chair broke a 6-6 tie to keep the vaccine on the schedule earlier this past year, thwarting his goal of eliminating the vaccine from the schedule except for people over 65.
Now that he sees he only has 6 sure anti-vax votes, Kennedy stacked the deck with these two new fervently anti-vaccine zealots:
Dr. Kimberly Biss, an obstetrician-gynecologist based in Florida, has a documented history of public criticism of vaccines. In a 2022 podcast interview, she explicitly stated that “prior to COVID I was not an anti-vaxxer, but I am now.” She also has said that she would not have her own grandchildren vaccinated and described the vaccine industry as “disgusting.”
Dr. Adam Urato, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist has frequently asserted that vaccine safety is not “settled” and emphasizes (without evidence) that vaccines pose risks to pregnant women and fetuses. He’s also critical of allopathic medical interventions generally.
ACIP recommendations guide clinical practice and are hard wired to what health insurance needs to cover. If it’s not on schedule, insurers (including Medicaid via the VFC) don’t have to cover it.
The fact of the matter is that Kennedy has broad sweeping powers as Secretary and is enthusiastically using it to achieve his goal of elimination access to several vaccines. Because of the lack of checks and balances in Congress, I’m confident Kennedy will achieve his goal in 2026.
However, with the midterm elections in one year and a new presidential election in 2028 – a future administration will eventually reverse Kennedy’s damage. In the meantime there will be lasting damage to public health and lost lives.
