HHS Cancels Upcoming ACIP Meeting After Kennedy’s Full Committee Overhaul
Updated (5 articles)
Cancellation Announced by HHS Spokesperson The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will not convene next week, citing “further information will be shared as available.” The decision was communicated on Wednesday night, and an anonymous source confirmed it followed internal HHS guidance. Committee members reportedly had not been notified of the cancellation as of that evening [1].
Kennedy’s June Removal of All ACIP Members In June, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy dismissed all 17 ACIP members, labeling the panel a “rubber stamp for industry profit‑taking agendas.” He appointed new members who align with his anti‑vaccine stance, reshaping the committee that has guided U.S. vaccine policy since 1964. This overhaul set the stage for the abrupt meeting cancellation [1].
Policy Shifts Prompt Legal Challenges and Criticism Kennedy previously eliminated broad COVID‑19 and hepatitis B recommendations and announced a “slimming down” of the childhood vaccine schedule in January. The American Academy of Pediatrics and other groups sued the administration to block these changes and asked a judge to suspend the ACIP meeting. The legal actions underscore mounting opposition from medical experts [1].
ACIP Member Raises Controversial Safety Claims Dr. Robert Malone, an early mRNA researcher and ACIP member, warned on a podcast that COVID‑19 vaccines might cause cancer, a claim contradicted by regulatory agencies. He cautioned that if the FDA does not act, “other entities will” intervene, urging listeners to stay tuned for the upcoming meeting that is now cancelled. Malone’s statements add to the controversy surrounding the committee’s direction [1].
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Timeline
1964 – The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) begins guiding U.S. vaccine policy, reviewing safety and efficacy to inform CDC recommendations [1].
June 2025 – HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fires all 17 ACIP members, calling them “a rubber stamp for industry profit‑taking agendas,” and appoints new advisers who publicly describe themselves as anti‑vaccine [1][5].
September 2025 – Nine former CDC directors and more than 1,000 HHS employees issue a joint letter urging Kennedy’s resignation, warning that his policy shifts endanger public health [3].
November 2025 – Kennedy personally directs the CDC to drop its longstanding statement that vaccines do not cause autism, adding a disclaimer without new supporting data [5].
Nov 29, 2025 – FDA’s chief medical and scientific officer Dr. Vinay Prasad circulates an internal memo proposing stricter vaccine‑approval rules, citing an “initial analysis” that links 10 of 96 pediatric deaths to COVID‑19 vaccines [4].
Dec 3, 2025 – A dozen former FDA commissioners publish a letter in The New England Journal of Medicine condemning the proposed FDA changes as a threat to core regulatory principles and warning they could delay vaccine availability [3].
Dec 30, 2025 – Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) branding spreads to Defense, Transportation and EPA; HHS eliminates thousands of jobs and reshapes the vaccine advisory panel, intensifying criticism of the administration’s public‑health credibility [5].
Jan 2026 – Kennedy announces a “slimming down” of the childhood vaccine schedule, reducing the number of routine immunizations recommended for children [1].
Jan 2026 – Kennedy adds two more members to the reconstituted ACIP panel, further consolidating his influence over vaccine guidance [2].
Jan 13, 2026 – Seven medical associations file suit in a Massachusetts federal court seeking to block the new CDC vaccine recommendations, restore the pre‑change schedule as of Apr 15 2025, and replace Kennedy‑appointed advisers [2].
Feb 19, 2026 – An HHS spokesperson announces the cancellation of the upcoming ACIP meeting scheduled for the following week, stating “further information will be shared as available” and noting that committee members were not notified of the change [1].
Feb 2026 (planned) – The cancelled ACIP meeting had been set to consider delaying the first hepatitis B dose for newborns and other revisions to the childhood vaccine schedule [4][1].
Ongoing – ACIP member Dr. Robert Malone repeatedly claims COVID‑19 vaccines may cause cancer and warns listeners that “if the FDA does not act, other entities will,” urging them to “stay tuned” for the upcoming meeting [1].
All related articles (5 articles)
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CNN: CDC Vaccine Advisory Committee Meeting Cancelled for Next Week
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AP: RFK Jr.'s MAHA push reshapes HHS in first year, drawing praise and concern
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CNN: Former Public Health Leaders Warn of Vaccine Policy Shifts Ahead of ACIP Meeting
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CNN: FDA Official Proposes Stricter Vaccine Approval After Alleged Child Deaths Linked to COVID‑19 Shots
External resources (13 links)
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJyriHm1dlo (cited 1 times)
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- https://www.cdc.gov/acip/index.html (cited 1 times)
- https://www.cdc.gov/acip/membership/roster.html#cdc_generic_section_1-robert-w-malone-md (cited 1 times)
- https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6342a5.htm (cited 1 times)
- https://publications.aap.org/aapnews/news/33682 (cited 1 times)
- https://publications.aap.org/aapnews/news/34142/AAP-co-plaintiffs-seek-to-block-changes-to (cited 1 times)
- https://x.com/EndTribalism/status/2014098027074449438?s=20 (cited 2 times)
- https://x.com/AdamUrato1/status/1938322690185544005?s=20 (cited 1 times)
- https://rumble.com/v2r9elx-ob-gyn-dr.-kimberly-biss-i-was-not-anti-vaccine-i-am-now.html (cited 1 times)
- https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory-overview/public-health-threats/coronavirus-disease-covid-19/covid-19-medicines/covid-19-vaccines-key-facts (cited 1 times)
- https://www.statnews.com/2025/12/03/acip-meeting-cdc-vaccine-advisory-panel-risks-benefits/ (cited 1 times)