Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Wednesday appointed eight new members to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention vaccine recommendation committee — and at least half have a history of vaccine skepticism.
The new appointments come just days after Kennedy retired all 17 members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices earlier this week. The board is responsible for making recommendations on the safety and efficacy of vaccines and sets the immunization schedules for both adults and children in the U.S.
“The slate includes highly credentialed scientists, leading public-health experts, and some of America’s most accomplished physicians,” Kennedy said in an announcement Wednesday evening. “All of these individuals are committed to evidence-based medicine, gold-standard science, and common sense.”