Fact Check: "Robert Kennedy Jr. fires 17 vaccine panel members, replaces with anti-vaccine advocates."
What We Know
On June 9, 2025, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Secretary of Health and Human Services, made headlines by removing all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which is responsible for setting national vaccine policies. This unprecedented action was described as a "clean sweep" aimed at addressing alleged conflicts of interest within the panel, which Kennedy claimed had become a "rubber stamp" for vaccines (source-3, source-4). Just two days later, on June 11, he announced the appointment of eight new members to the committee, many of whom have been associated with anti-vaccine sentiments or have publicly criticized vaccines (source-2, source-5).
The new appointees include individuals like Dr. Robert Malone, who has been known for spreading misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines, and Martin Kulldorff, who was involved in the controversial Great Barrington Declaration (source-2, source-1). Kennedy's selections have raised concerns among public health advocates, who fear that the new committee may promote an anti-vaccine agenda (source-2, source-4).
Analysis
The claim that Robert Kennedy Jr. fired 17 vaccine panel members and replaced them with advocates who are skeptical of vaccines is supported by multiple credible sources. The Washington Post and NPR both reported on the removal of the entire ACIP membership and the subsequent appointment of new members (source-3, source-2).
Critics, including the American Medical Association, have expressed concern that the new members lack the necessary expertise to make informed vaccine recommendations, which could undermine public health efforts (source-2, source-4). The selection of individuals known for their anti-vaccine positions raises significant questions about the future direction of vaccine policy in the United States.
While Kennedy argues that the previous committee was plagued with conflicts of interest, the evidence suggests that the new appointments are more aligned with anti-vaccine sentiments rather than a commitment to evidence-based medicine (source-3, source-1).
Conclusion
The claim that Robert Kennedy Jr. fired 17 vaccine panel members and replaced them with anti-vaccine advocates is True. The evidence from multiple reputable sources confirms that Kennedy's actions were indeed aimed at overhauling the ACIP by appointing individuals who have been critical of vaccines, raising alarms among public health experts about the implications for vaccine policy in the United States.
