As RFK Jr. Rigs Vaccine Advisory Committee and Pushes Anti-Vax Propaganda, Ranking Members Robert Garcia, Raja Krishnamoorthi Demand Answers
Washington, D.C.—Today, Rep. Robert Garcia, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Health Care and Financial Services, sent a letter to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Chief of Staff Matthew Buzzelli demanding an urgent briefing. The request follows a June meeting of CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) during which the committee refused to approve certain flu vaccines, relied on misinformation, and elevated anti-vaccine activists over CDC experts. The lawmakers are seeking answers on how these dangerous decisions will affect all Americans, especially children who are most at risk.
“In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has long served as a trusted, science-driven body guiding vaccine recommendations to protect the health of all Americans. Secretary Kennedy’s reckless decision to fire all 17 members of this expert committee in favor of anti-vaccine conspiracy theorists and misinformation peddlers is therefore irresponsible and dangerous. As this newly politicized ACIP moves to block flu vaccines, elevate anti-vax voices, and question well-established childhood immunization schedules, the American people are demanding answers. Oversight Committee Democrats write to understand how these appointees were selected, whether their decisions align with science, and what potential conflicts of interest may be compromising our public health system,” wrote the Ranking Members.
During the June 25-26 meeting, the seven new ACIP members revealed a deeply concerning prejudice against vaccines, including announcing they would reevaluate vaccines available to children and vaccines long found to be safe, recommending against children and adults receiving flu vaccines, platforming non-experts and long-time anti-vaccine activists, indicating interest to stop allowing the use of a combination vaccine for measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox for young children, and failing to vote on a recommendation for fall COVID-19 boosters.
In their letter, the Ranking Member also highlight that ACIP and CDC recommendations are critical to ensuring the affordability and accessibility of vaccines, noting that insurance companies, including government insurance programs, are required to cover the vaccines that CDC recommends.
“These attacks on the independent scientific public health process will make Americans sicker. It will make it harder for Americans to go to work and will mean higher medical bills. Kids will miss more school, and most tragically, lives will be lost that could have easily been saved,” continued the Members. “Given the deeply concerning events of the June 25–26, 2025, ACIP meeting and the impact that ACIP’s decisions will have on vaccine access for all Americans, including children, we request a briefing with CDC staff by July 17, 2025.”
The Ranking Members also requested documents and information regarding Secretary Kennedy’s selection of the new appointees to ACIP, including potential conflicts of interest.
Click here to read the letter to CDC Chief of Staff Matthew Buzzelli.
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