An unearthed report showed that Health and Human Service Secretary Robert F. Kennedy shared "inaccurate" information about a CDC Advisor Committee on vaccines, as many believe he was laying the groundwork for dismissing its members.
In recent interviews, Kennedy has claimed, "I think 97% of the people on it had conflicts. I think we need to end those conflicts and make sure that scientists are doing unobstructed science."
However, after reviewing the 2009 report and speaking to people involved with the committee, NPR determined that Kennedy's assertion was "inaccurate."
"Right now, what we're getting is a total misrepresentation of a 20-year-old report, about a process that was already being improved before that report was issued," former CDC Director Tom Friedman told NPR.
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"These statements have raised concerns with public health advocates that Kennedy may be laying the groundwork to kick members off the CDC's vaccine advisory committee, and replace them with members more aligned with his past advocacy work against vaccines," the outlet noted. "Prior to his current role, Kennedy founded the anti-vaccine organization Children's Health Defense and served as the group's chairman from 2015 to 2023."
Dr. Walter Orenstein, former director of the CDC's U.S. immunization program, predicted "you could get worse recommendations or you could make vaccines less accessible" if Kennedy dismissed committee members.