![[CREDIT: CDC] HHS Sec. Robert Kennedy Jr., who contributed to anti-vaccine sentiment allowing a measles outbreak that killed two children, has fired all its CDC vaccine advisors.](https://e8dgfhu6pow.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/CDC-vaccine-advisors-measles-outbreak.png?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Senator Jack Reed is urging Republican Congressmen to face up for his or her constituents and work with Democrats to carry HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. accountable for clearing out the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) vaccine advisors.
Monday, Kennedy dismissed all 17 of the medical and public well being specialists on the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) — together with pediatricians, epidemiologists and geriatricians — who make suggestions about who ought to get sure vaccines, together with the schedule for childhood vaccinations. He mentioned he would appoint new members to the physique.
Kennedy’s vaccination opposition wavered as Measles outbreak killed youngsters
Kennedy, who spent 20 years sowing disinformation about vaccines, supplied combined messages about vaccination as a 2025 Texas measles outbreak killed a baby. He mentioned the measles vaccine was the “best method” to stop measles after a second youngster died. Monday, Kennedy mentioned the ACIP dismissals had been partisan — all had been appointed by former President Joe Biden — and would “restore public belief”.
“A clear sweep is important to reestablish public confidence in vaccine science,” Kennedy mentioned in a press release saying the dismissals on the federal Well being and Human Providers web site.
Kennedy, Anti-Vaccination Sentiment Elevated Probabilities of Measles Outbreak
The outbreak in Texas was the probably end result of anti-science, anti-vaccination sentiment Kennedy helped unfold. In the course of the 2022–23 faculty yr, vaccination protection remained close to 93 p.c for all reported vaccines, starting from 92.7 p.c for DTaP to 93.1 p.c for measles, mumps, and rubella and polio, in keeping with the CDC.
In Texas, measles vaccination charges fell to 94.3 p.c, according to an October 2024 CDC report. In keeping with the journal Elsevier, “Measles elimination hinges on vaccination protection remaining above 95% to retain adequate group safety.” In Rhode Island, the measles vaccination fee is 97.1 p.c.
‘This transfer is bound to extend vaccine-preventable outbreaks and endanger folks’s lives. Probably the most weak Individuals, together with unvaccinated infants, immunocompromised people, and older Individuals are more than likely to endure from this ill-conceived directive.’ — U.S. Sen. Jack Reed
The CDC lately reported that routine childhood vaccinations in America have prevented over 1.1 million deaths, greater than 500 million instances of sickness and greater than 32 million hospitalizations over the previous 30 years.
Amongst kindergarten college students, CDC experiences, vaccination protection is declining as vaccine exemptions enhance, setting the stage for accumulation of clusters of under-vaccinated youngsters, which might result in outbreaks. Exemption better than 5 p.c of the inhabitants restrict the extent of achievable vaccination protection, rising the danger for outbreaks of vaccine-preventable illnesses.
“These shifts underscore the significance of immunization packages, faculties, and suppliers in making certain that youngsters are absolutely vaccinated earlier than faculty entry,” in keeping with the CDC.
Reed: Trump Admin’s Vaccine Advisors Firings Threaten Individuals’ Well being
“Secretary Kennedy’s unfounded, private anti-vaxxer views are hazardous to public well being and he’s making this reckless transfer based mostly on ideology and conspiracy theories, not sound proof. The Trump Administration is eradicating trusted, completed, unbiased specialists on ACIP and can probably exchange them with ideologues who parrot Kennedy’s misconceptions and conspiracy theories about vaccines. This transfer is bound to extend vaccine-preventable outbreaks and endanger folks’s lives. Probably the most weak Individuals, together with unvaccinated infants, immunocompromised people, and older Individuals are more than likely to endure from this ill-conceived directive.
“I urge my Republican colleagues to talk up on behalf of their constituents and work with Democrats to carry this Administration accountable for breaking its guarantees and degrading public well being.”
