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RFK Jr.’s War on Science: Inside the Dismantling of Health Advisory Panels
Key Takeaways
RFK Jr. fired entire vaccine advisory panels like ACIP and dissolved infection control committee HICPAC, replacing experts with critics .
Canceled FDA flu vaccine meetings risk delays in strain selection amid severe outbreaks; measles deaths have already occurred .
Title X family planning funds are being diverted from comprehensive care toward infertility centers, limiting access for low-income groups .
Claims linking vaccines to autism or COVID to ethnicity lack scientific backing and erode trust in public health guidance .
Dissolving HICPAC leaves hospitals without updated infection protocols as antibiotic resistance and pandemic threats grow .
The ACIP Overhaul: Vaccine Policy Now Led by Skeptics
President Trump’s pick for HHS Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., moved fast. First thing, he fired all 17 members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) back in June 2025. Then he replaced them with picks of his own—folks known for criticizing vaccines . This group advises on the vaccine schedule kids follow, what shots get covered by insurance, stuff like that. Pretty important.
The new chair? Martin Kulldorff. He’s a biostatistician Harvard fired cause he refused the COVID vaccine. Kulldorff says the panel will review the whole childhood vaccine schedule, check interactions between vaccines, and even look at "cumulative effects" of ingredients . Thing is, they broke normal rules doing it. Meetings got scheduled last-minute, topics like thimerosal (a preservative) got added late, and the presenter? Lyn Redwood from Kennedy’s anti-vaccine group, Children’s Health Defense. She even cited a study that didn’t exist in her slides. Oops .
Medical groups ain’t happy. The American Academy of Pediatrics straight up boycotted the meeting. They’ll publish their own vaccine schedule now . One appointee, Dr. Michael Ross, quit unexpectedly too—makes ya wonder what’s happening behind closed doors.
“Cancelling a critically important FDA meeting that is vital to the development of effective vaccines for the next flu season is irresponsible, ignores science and shows a lack of concern for the public.” — Dr. Tina Tan, IDSA President
This ain’t just talk. Texas is seeing measles outbreaks right now. A kid died—first measles death in the US since 2015. Most cases? Unvaccinated children . When panels meant to protect us get dismantled, real people suffer.
HICPAC’s Silent Death: Infection Control Left in Limbo
HICPAC—Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee—might sound boring. But for 30 years, this group set the rules keeping hospitals safe. How to sterilize equipment, when to wear gloves or masks, stopping outbreaks of nasty stuff like MRSA or C. diff . They made over 540 recommendations; 90% became CDC policy. Simple things, like putting alcohol hand rubs everywhere in 2002? That was them .
Trump’s administration dissolved HICPAC quietly in early 2025. Said it was about “workforce reduction.” But infectious disease experts called it dangerous . See, HICPAC was updating guidelines for airborne pathogens—something we desperately need after COVID. Those drafts? Stalled now. Gone .
Table: Key HICPAC Guidelines Now Frozen
Without HICPAC, hospitals and nursing homes gotta figure things out themselves. Some states might ignore science for politics. Others might try but lack resources. Dr. Syra Madad, a NYC health official, put it bluntly: disbanding HICPAC “creates a dangerous gap... Its loss risks lives” .
Title X Shift: From Birth Control to "Fertility Support"
Title X is that federal program helping low-income folks get birth control, cancer screenings, STD tests—stuff like that. Served nearly 195 million people since 1970 . Planned Parenthood clinics are big providers here.
But under Kennedy, HHS started moving Title X money. They’re steering funds toward “infertility centers” instead . Now, helping people conceive is good, sure. But not when it takes away from basic care. In 2023 alone, Title X helped 2.8 million people. Two-thirds were at or below poverty level; almost a third had no insurance . For many, it’s their only healthcare.
This feels familiar. Back in 2019, Trump’s team made a “gag rule” blocking Title X providers from even mentioning abortion. Planned Parenthood left the program then rather than lie to patients. Funding got cut in half . Biden fixed that, but now? Kennedy’s HHS withheld funding from providers in 23 states this March. They’re hinting at another gag rule too .
Black women, Latinas, trans folks—they’ll feel this hardest. Black women already die more from cervical cancer. Over half of trans people skip care due to cost. Taking away Title X clinics makes everything worse . It’s not just about birth control; it’s cancer finding, HIV prevention, basic health.
Cancelled Meetings, Delayed Vaccines: Flu Strategy in Disarray
March 2025 should’ve been busy. The FDA’s vaccine advisers (VRBPAC) meet then to pick strains for the next flu shot. Super technical, but vital. Manufacturers need those picks by March to make shots for fall .
Except the meeting got canceled. No reason given . This comes right after Kennedy took over HHS. And get this—it’s the worst flu season in over ten years. Thirty-three million illnesses, 430,000 hospitalizations, nineteen thousand deaths already . Kids died too—86 pediatric deaths reported.
Table: U.S. Flu Burden (2024-2025 Season as of February 2025)
CDC says, "We’ll recommend strains later." But Rick Bright, former health official, admits it’s weird. FDA usually agrees with WHO picks, but skipping the meeting? Unsettling . Especially since the CDC’s own vaccine panel (ACIP) had its February meeting canceled too—supposedly for “more public comment” .
Flu shots save lives. Delays or sloppy choices mean less protection. When committees vanish or meetings vanish, science takes a back seat. People notice.
The "Anti-Science" Label: Debunked Theories Driving Policy
Kennedy ain’t shy about his beliefs. Problem is, many clash with established science. Like vaccines causing autism? He’s said it repeatedly . But that idea comes from Andrew Wakefield—a UK doc who lost his license over faked data. Huge studies across countries show no link .
Or fluoride. He claims it lowers IQ, causes thyroid disease. Prof Avijit Banerjee, dentistry chair at King’s College London, counters: “potential harmful effects... haven’t been associated with the very low levels used” in water . Kennedy points to a California ruling, but experts note it just asked for more study—not a ban.
Then there’s COVID. Kennedy claimed it “targets Caucasians and Black people” while sparing “Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese.” Health specialists called that plain false . Melinda Mills at Oxford blamed infection differences on “inequalities, deprivation”—like living in crowded homes . Kennedy tried citing a study, but its authors shot back: findings “never supported” his claims .
“My biggest fear... is that he will continue to promote an anti-science rhetoric that undermines our most critical public health efforts.” — Nicola Hawley, Yale Prof of Chronic Disease Epidemiology
Even his chronic disease fight gets shaky. He blames processed foods (fair) but pushes raw milk (risky) and insists food dyes cause ADHD (unproven) . Experts like Hawley wish he’d focus on bigger issues—like poverty making healthy food hard to get.
Chronic Disease Focus: Good Intentions, Misguided Methods?
Kennedy talks a lot about America’s “sick kids.” Autism rates? He says 1 in 10,000 when he was young; now 1 in 34 kids. He’s right numbers rose—but mostly cause we diagnose better now . Still, he wants to end the “chronic disease epidemic.” Ambitious.
His plan? Ban ultra-processed foods in schools, jails, nursing homes . Chips, sugary cereals, sodas—out. Experts like Dr. Nerys Astbury (Oxford) agree these foods drive obesity, diabetes . But she and others warn: fixing diet ain’t enough. Low-income areas often lack fresh food stores. Unsafe streets mean no outdoor play. “Structural issues” matter .
Kennedy also vows to purge “corruption.” Claims food companies “control the FDA” . There’s truth here—lobbying’s real. Prof Xi Chen (Yale) suggests committees to study corporate influence . But Kennedy’s purging career staff at HHS. Prof Howard Forman warns: “Laying off professionals won’t reduce corporate influence” . Might make it worse.
He means well, maybe. But when personal stories (“when I was a kid...”) replace data, policy gets wobbly. Reshma Ramachandran, Yale med professor, puts it sharp: “You want someone who’s willing to look at agencies staffed with scientists... He’s not that” .
Rebuilding Trust or Breaking Systems? The Road Ahead
So where’s this heading? Kennedy’s HHS feels chaotic. Advisory panels gutted . Meetings canceled . Funds shifted from proven programs (Title X) to pet projects (infertility centers) . Experts are nervous.
Infectious disease docs warn constantly. Antibiotic resistance is rising. Pandemics loom. Without HICPAC, hospitals lack clear rules . Without ACIP, vaccine schedules might weaken . Measles is already back; flu could spike if strain picks lag .
The distrust Kennedy sows? It spreads. If folks hear HHS leaders doubting vaccines, they might skip shots. Herd immunity drops. Outbreaks grow. Prof Xi Chen (Yale) sees it: Kennedy’s actions “worsen the trust many Americans have in federal agencies” .
There’s still hope though. Congress could push back. States might fund their own panels. Groups like IDSA or AAP could publish independent guidelines . But it’s messy. And in public health, messy costs lives.
FAQs: RFK Jr.'s Health Policy Shifts
Q1: What vaccine panels did RFK Jr. actually change?He fired all 17 members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) in June 2025, replacing them with critics including anti-vaccine advocates . He also dissolved the long-standing Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) entirely .
Q2: How does canceling the FDA flu meeting affect people?The Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) meeting in March 2025 was meant to pick flu strains for next season’s shots. Canceling it risks delays, leaving manufacturers scrambling. This comes during a severe flu season with 19,000+ deaths already .
Q3: Why is shifting Title X funds harmful?Title X provides low-cost birth control, cancer screenings, and STD testing for 2.8 million+ people yearly, mostly low-income/uninsured. Redirecting funds to infertility centers strips access from vulnerable groups. HHS also withheld grants from providers in 23 states .
Q4: Do Kennedy’s autism claims hold up?No. He repeatedly links vaccines to autism, citing discredited researcher Andrew Wakefield. Major studies across multiple countries show no connection. Experts note autism diagnoses rose due to expanded criteria, not vaccines .
Q5: What happens without HICPAC?Hospitals lose access to updated infection control guidelines (e.g., for airborne pathogens). States may create conflicting rules, risking inconsistent safety practices. Key protections against outbreaks (like MRSA or future pandemics) are weakened .