Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Appoints New Vaccine Committee Members
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appointed two new members to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices following the dismissal of all original members.
U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appointed Dr. Sean Downing and Dr. Angelina Farella to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) on February 27, 2026. The ACIP is the federal body responsible for establishing the national vaccine schedule and clinical standards.
These appointments follow the dismissal of all 17 original committee members by Kennedy last summer. The restructuring triggered lawsuits from 15 states and several medical associations challenging the legality of the recasting under federal administrative law.
Legal disputes forced the postponement of a February meeting. The committee is now expected to reconvene in mid-March to discuss long COVID and COVID-19 vaccine injuries. Pharmaceutical companies and healthcare providers have expressed concern over these changes, as ACIP recommendations determine insurance coverage mandates.
Keep reading in the app
The full story and every source, free in the app.
Coming soonGoogle Play