RFK Jr.'s chosen advisor at the CDC vaccine panel will take on former CDC leaders in a debate challenge
In a surprising turn of events, Dr. Martin Kulldorff, the new chair of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), has called for a live public debate on vaccines during a key meeting on Thursday. Dr. Kulldorff, who was among 12 members added to the committee this year by US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime vaccine skeptic, is expected to argue that only through debate can the public know who to trust for scientific advice. In his Thursday remarks, Dr. Kulldorff invited nine former CDC directors or acting directors who wrote a critical op-ed in the New York Times to participate in this debate. The former CDC directors have expressed concern about the 'wide-ranging' health security impacts of Kennedy's decisions and accused him of stacking CDC advisory committees with unqualified individuals holding dangerous and unscientific views. They also criticized Kennedy for actions taken over the past several months, stating they were unlike anything ever seen at the agency and the country's public health system. Dr. Besser, now the president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, urged the ACIP chair and its members to approach their work with the seriousness of purpose and commitment to science that this responsibility demands. He expressed concern that CDC scientists have been blocked from informing or reviewing the committee's work and that outside experts have been excluded. He warned that the health repercussions for the nation would be severe if the committee continues down this path. Thursday's ACIP meeting will discuss hepatitis B vaccines, measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella vaccines, while Friday's discussion will focus on Covid-19 vaccines. The current ACIP, according to Dr. Besser, should not be reduced to political theater or gamesmanship. He stated that it represents an 'alarming departure' from a legacy of close work with CDC scientists. In response to perceptions of the committee as anti-vaccine after its 17 previous members were dismissed in June, Dr. Kulldorff has pushed back, emphasizing the members' commitment to reassuring the public and restoring public confidence. However, if the former CDC directors refuse to engage in an open and honest debate with the ACIP Committee, Dr. Kulldorff has suggested that they should not be trusted. This public debate promises to be a significant event, shedding light on the ongoing controversies surrounding vaccines and public health policy.
