Federal Vaccine Policy Overhaul Under Kennedy Sparks Concern

In a significant shift in federal health policy, the Trump administration, under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has removed at least ten professional medical societies from federal vaccine policy working groups. This move, announced on August 5, 2025, affects organizations such as the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), which have traditionally advised the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). The administration cited concerns about potential bias, labeling these organizations as "special interest groups."

This decision follows Kennedy's earlier dismissal of all 17 ACIP members in June 2025, replacing them with individuals, including some known vaccine skeptics. The administration argued that these changes were necessary to eliminate perceived conflicts of interest and restore public confidence in vaccine policies.

The exclusion of these established medical societies from vaccine policy advisory roles has sparked widespread concern within the medical community. Critics argue that these actions could lead to inconsistent vaccine guidance, erode public trust in immunization programs, and negatively impact public health, especially with the upcoming respiratory virus season.

In response to these developments, a group of independent experts has formed the Vaccine Integrity Project. This initiative aims to fill the advisory gap by hosting public meetings to present current peer-reviewed vaccine research. The group underscores the absence of updated ACIP guidance for COVID-19 boosters as the virus season approaches. While HHS officials have criticized the new group as a self-appointed watchdog, traditional medical organizations assert they will continue issuing vaccine recommendations directly to clinicians, potentially leading to conflicting public health messages.

These actions are part of a broader reorganization within the HHS under Secretary Kennedy. In March 2025, a reorganization of the HHS was announced, including merging existing agencies into a new Administration for a Healthy America and reorienting the CDC towards infectious disease programs. The plan also proposed a reduction in workforce totaling about 20,000 full-time employees throughout HHS, with significant cuts to the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration.

On July 30, 2025, the U.S. Senate confirmed Susan Monarez as the new director of the CDC. Monarez, who holds a Ph.D. in infectious disease research, emphasized during her confirmation hearing that she has seen no evidence linking vaccines to autism and pledged to enhance vaccine availability. She replaces a previously withdrawn nominee amid a significant measles outbreak and a growing bird flu threat.

These developments represent a significant shift in the landscape of vaccine policy in the United States, with potential long-term implications for public health and trust in medical institutions.