Breaking: HHS Secretary RFK Jr. abruptly fires CDC vaccine advisory panel

Kennedy said the move is needed to "re-establish public confidence," but experts expressed shock.

Log In    Subscribe BREAKING NEWS   Health secretary RFK Jr. abruptly fires CDC vaccine advisory panel By Helen Branswell Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has taken the extraordinary step of firing the expert panel that advises the CDC, saying the action is needed to restore faith in vaccines.   Proponents of vaccines have feared Kennedy, who has been openly critical of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, might take such a step, but were still shocked. READ MORE Sign up for Morning Rounds Understand how science, health policy, and medicine shape the world every day. Learn more. In Case You Missed It 1   Several hundred NIH employees sign a letter of protest to the agency's director By Anil Oza 2   RFK Jr.'s chronic disease agency would eliminate or reduce funding for some prevention programs By Elizabeth Cooney 3   Philanthropies rush to save measles surveillance network pushed to brink of collapse by U.S. cuts By Helen Branswell 4   Rewriting of Covid vaccine recommendations has doctors and other experts worried By Helen Branswell Get 50% off STAT+ Stay up to date on the latest news coming out of the biotech, pharma, and life science industries. Learn more STAT, 1 Exchange Place, Boston, MA ©2025, All Rights Reserved. I no longer wish to receive STAT emails Update Newsletter Preferences • Contact Us • Advertise with Us