In a pivotal moment for U.S. public health policy, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is poised to redefine its vaccination guidelines under the leadership of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. A newly appointed advisory committee, handpicked by Kennedy, is set to convene on September 18 and 19, 2025, to deliberate on critical vaccine recommendations, including those for hepatitis B, measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV), and COVID-19. This meeting follows Kennedy’s controversial decision earlier this year to dismiss all 17 members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and replace them with a smaller, 12-member panel. The new committee, chaired by Martin Kulldorff, a biostatistician and epidemiologist known for his opposition to COVID-19 lockdowns, has already stirred debate. Among the key issues on the agenda is the potential delay of the hepatitis B vaccine for newborns, a move that has drawn criticism from medical experts who argue that the birth dose has been instrumental in reducing hepatitis B infections. The committee will also review the use of a combined MMRV vaccine, which has been linked to a higher risk of seizures in young children compared to separate MMR and varicella vaccines. The reshuffling of the CDC’s leadership and advisory panels has raised concerns among public health officials, with some accusing Kennedy of prioritizing ideology over science. The meeting comes amid broader turmoil at the CDC, including the resignation of several senior officials who cited fears that policy decisions were being predetermined without adequate scientific review. As the nation watches, the outcome of these deliberations could mark a significant shift in U.S. vaccination policy, with far-reaching implications for public health.
Kennedy’s hand-picked CDC committee to vote on hepatitis B and COVID shots
