Kennedy's new vaccine panel lacks experience and shouldn’t meet, Sen. Cassidy says

Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., criticized Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s picks for a key federal vaccine advisory committee and called for its meeting to be delayed.

Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., on Monday criticized Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s picks for a key federal vaccine advisory committee and called for the group’s next meeting to be delayed until more members with relevant expertise can be appointed.

Kennedy abruptly fired all 17 members of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices this month and replaced them with eight new members, including known vaccine skeptics. That group is scheduled to meet for the first time Wednesday and Thursday.

Cassidy, a medical doctor who is the chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, was a key vote in Kennedy’s confirmation. He said he voted for Kennedy after Kennedy made a number of commitments, including not to make changes to ACIP, a highly influential panel that makes vaccine recommendations and shapes the childhood vaccination schedule.

Cassidy expressed concerns Monday on X about the newly appointed members.

“Although the appointees to ACIP have scientific credentials, many do not have significant experience studying microbiology, epidemiology or immunology. In particular, some lack experience studying new technologies such as mRNA vaccines, and may even have a preconceived bias against them,” Cassidy wrote.