Recent changes at the CDC involve the removal of key officials overseeing the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), coinciding with the dismissal of the committee's members by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. This shakeup, which includes the appointment of critics of COVID vaccines, draws attention due to the importance of ACIP's recommendations for public health policies and vaccine access. Notably, critical staff responsible for conflict of interest screenings were also removed, raising questions about the thoroughness of the selection process for the new committee members.
This week, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired all members of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and replaced them with new picks.
The vaccine recommendations from the committee are closely watched because they are tied to federal policies that enable access to the shots.
The staffers removed included Dr. Melinda Wharton, responsible for vetting nominees for ACIP, who was involved in conflict of interest screenings.
Kennedy is said to have circumvented the CDC's usual nomination process for selecting new members.
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