What's happened
The Department of Health and Human Services announced that Martin Kulldorff is stepping down as chair of the vaccine advisory committee to become chief science officer at HHS. He is replaced by Kirk Milhoan, known for spreading COVID-19 misinformation and anti-vaccine views. The move signals a shift in vaccine policy guidance.
What's behind the headline?
The replacement of the vaccine advisory committee's leadership underscores a significant politicization of public health in the U.S.
- The appointment of Kirk Milhoan, who has publicly questioned vaccine safety and promoted ineffective COVID-19 treatments, suggests a deliberate shift towards ideologically driven health policies.
- Kulldorff's move to a senior HHS role indicates a consolidation of influence among anti-vaccine advocates within federal health agencies.
- The decision to not include COVID-19 vaccines on the upcoming agenda, alongside proposals to remove childhood vaccine recommendations, signals a potential rollback of established immunization policies.
- This shift could undermine public trust in vaccination programs and complicate efforts to manage preventable diseases.
The broader context involves political figures like Kennedy actively reshaping health agencies to align with anti-vaccine narratives, which may impact future public health outcomes and policy integrity. The next steps will likely involve increased controversy over vaccine recommendations and public health messaging, with potential consequences for disease control and health equity.
What the papers say
The articles from Ars Technica, The Independent, and AP News collectively highlight the politicization of the CDC vaccine advisory process. Ars Technica emphasizes Kulldorff's new role and the ideological decisions made during his tenure, noting decisions like removing thimerosal from vaccines and restricting COVID-19 vaccine efforts. The Independent and AP News focus on the broader political context, including Kennedy's influence and the appointment of Kirk Milhoan, who has a history of anti-vaccine views and misinformation. While Ars Technica provides detailed critique of the committee's decisions, The Independent and AP News contextualize these changes within a political strategy to reshape public health policy, raising concerns about the future of vaccine guidance and public trust.
How we got here
In 2025, the Biden administration replaced the longstanding CDC vaccine advisory panel with individuals aligned with anti-vaccine views, including Kulldorff, a critic of COVID-19 measures and co-author of the Great Barrington Declaration. Kulldorff's departure and replacement reflect ongoing political and ideological shifts within U.S. health policy, with recent decisions indicating a move away from traditional evidence-based recommendations.
Go deeper
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