(Reuters) -U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a long-time vaccine skeptic, has been making sweeping changes to reshape vaccine, food and medicine policies.
The most far-reaching of his moves culminated in the layoff of all 17 members of a panel of vaccine experts at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Here are some of the vaccine-related policy moves under Kennedy’s leadership in recent months:
FDA RECOMMENDATIONS FOR INFLUENZA VACCINES
Date of Announcement: March 13, 2025
Details: U.S. FDA independently recommends virus strains for 2025-2026 influenza vaccines, deviating from traditional advisory committee voting.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXIN STUDIES RELATED TO AUTISM
Date of Announcement: April 16, 2025
Details: Kennedy plans a series of studies on link between autism and environmental factors, including mold, air, water and food. He said, without any scientific evidence, that “environmental toxins” are responsible for the rise in autism rates among children in the U.S.
LAUNCH OF U.S. AUTISM PROJECT USING MEDICARE AND MEDICAID DATA
Date of Announcement: May 7, 2025
Details: Federal agencies will create a database to research causes of autism, focusing on Medicare and Medicaid data, as part of a broader effort to explore potential links between vaccines and autism.
FDA TIGHTENS REQUIREMENTS FOR COVID VACCINE
Date of Announcement: May 20, 2025
Details: The FDA plans new trials for annual COVID-19 boosters, limiting them to older adults and those at risk of severe illness. This change aligns with international perspectives on COVID vaccination strategies.
US DROPS COVID VACCINE RECOMMENDATION FOR HEALTHY KIDS, PREGNANT WOMEN
Date of Announcement: May 27, 2025
Details: The U.S. stops recommending routine COVID vaccinations for pregnant women and healthy children, bypassing the CDC’s traditional advisory process.
CANCELLATION OF MODERNA BIRD FLU VACCINE CONTRACT
Date of Announcement: May 28, 2025
Details: The Trump administration cancels a contract with Moderna for the late-stage development of its bird flu vaccine, after determining it did not meet scientific standards.
KENNEDY GUTS VACCINE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Date of Announcement: June 9, 2025
Details: Kennedy fires all members of the CDC vaccine expert panel, which recommends how vaccines are used and by whom, promising to restore public trust in health agencies. Scientists and experts say the changes would undermine public confidence in health agencies.
KENNEDY REPLACES FIRED US CDC PANEL MEMBERS
Date of Announcement: June 11, 2025
Details: Kennedy names eight members to serve on a key panel of vaccine advisers, including several who have advocated against vaccines, after abruptly firing all 17 members of the independent committee of experts.
NEW CDC PANEL TO DISCUSS THIMEROSAL AT FIRST MEETING
Date of announcement: June 23
Details: The new members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will begin a two-day meet with a revamped agenda which includes discussions on vaccines containing the preservative thimerosal.
KENNEDY ACCEPTS VACCINE PANEL’S RECOMMENDATION TO REMOVE THIMEROSAL FROM US FLU SHOTS
Date of announcement: July 23
Details: The United States will stop distributing all influenza vaccines that contain mercury-based preservative thimerosal, as Kennedy accepts the vaccine panel’s recommendation given in June.
(Reporting by Christy Santhosh and Padmanabhan Ananthan in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D’Silva, Shinjini Ganguli and Devika Syamnath)
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