
US Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has dismissed all members of one of the most important vaccination advisory committees, an unprecedented move that is expected to bring significant changes to immunization policies in the US.
The Department of Health and Human Services announced Monday that 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices have been removed from office.
This committee plays a key role in recommending vaccine doses for the American population.
Kennedy, known for his skeptical stance on vaccines, stated that this reformation aims to restore public trust in the committee, accusing previous members of conflicts of interest.
"The committee will no longer function as a formal seal for the profitable interests of the industry," Kennedy said in an official statement.
He added that most of the members were appointed by former President Joe Biden last year, with terms running until 2028.
The committee consists of up to 19 voting members, health professionals and independent physicians who are not government employees.
It is coordinated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and usually meets three times a year. Non-voting organizations such as the American Medical Association also participate.
A Department of Health spokeswoman did not confirm whether new members had been selected for the committee. The next meeting of the committee is expected to be held this month.
In a report released in May by the Make America Healthy Again commission, Kennedy questioned the safety of vaccines, noting that American children today receive more vaccines than in previous decades.
He added that while all 50 US states have vaccination mandates in public schools, many European countries, including the United Kingdom, do not require vaccines for children.
Kennedy's critical approach to vaccines has also significantly influenced the pharmaceutical industry.
Shares of Moderna, known for its Covid-19 vaccine, have fallen by 32% this year, while those of Pfizer have fallen by almost 10%.