RFK Jr. forced to withdraw charter that opened CDC panel to anti-vaccine quacks
Source: Ars Technica
Revised charter withdrawn
A revised charter document for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s influential vaccine advisory committee was withdrawn by the Health Department over an administrative error, according to a notice published in the Federal Register (May 19 2026).
Proposed charter revisions
The revisions, detailed in an Ars Technica article, would have allowed Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.—who is known for anti‑vaccine positions—to appoint allies with dubious qualifications to advise the CDC. The changes also would have:
- Directed the CDC panel to focus on alleged vaccine injuries and risks.
- Welcomed fringe groups and anti‑vaccine organizations to participate in developing federal vaccine policy.
Prior actions by Kennedy
Kennedy’s effort to reshape the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) followed earlier attempts to undermine the committee, including a court order to reverse his meddling.
- In June 2025, Kennedy summarily fired all 17 ACIP experts and replaced them with unvetted, anti‑vaccine allies, as reported by Ars Technica.
- The reconstituted ACIP held several meetings that aired anti‑vaccine views, allowed activists to give unvetted presentations, and voted to remove longstanding, evidence‑based federal vaccine recommendations.
One notable change was the removal of the universal recommendation for a hepatitis B vaccine dose at birth, despite a lack of evidence indicating safety concerns or benefits to delaying the dose.
Consequences of the policy change
Modeling studies have projected that the removal of the universal birth‑dose recommendation will lead to:
- More infections and increases in liver cancers and deaths, as discussed in a JAMA Pediatrics abstract.
- Higher healthcare costs, detailed in a JAMA Pediatrics full article.