On Monday, June 9, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., removed all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (ACIP). ACIP comprises medical and public health experts who develop recommendations on the use of vaccines in the civilian population of the United States.
KMA provided members with a statement issued from (then) AMA President Bruce Scott, M.D., a Past President of the Kentucky Medical Association. Today, KMA joined other state medical associations from across the country in signing on to a letter to Secretary Kennedy expressing deep concern over the ACIP terminations. The letter urges the Secretary to reinstate the previously appointed members and to adhere to longstanding, transparent processes that prioritize experience and expertise for any future appointments. The letter also raises concern regarding the impact of the decision on vaccine hesitancy and prevention of vaccine-preventable disease, as well as potential access issues should ACIP recommendations impact health plan coverage.
The letter is available here.
