Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
New ACIP Charter, Published Thursday, Revises Purpose Of Panel, Who's On It
The New York Times: New Charter Allows RFK Jr. To Reclaim Vaccine Policy Despite Court Ruling
The Trump administration published on Thursday a new charter for the federal vaccine advisory committee that would allow Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to reclaim his changes to national vaccine policy, despite a ruling last month by a federal judge blocking them. The ruling, in a lawsuit brought by several medical organizations against Mr. Kennedy, froze the committee and reversed many of the decisions the health secretary and the panel had made in the last year to rescind longstanding recommendations for childhood vaccines. The judge also said the committee’s members were not qualified to recommend shots for Americans. (Mandavilli, 4/9)
MedPage Today: Experts Blast Changes To ACIP Members' Expertise Requirements
Infectious disease experts warned that the renewed charter for the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) could become a revolving door for the return of vaccine-skeptical members. The new charter, published on Thursday, places greater emphasis on potential vaccine harms and widens the door to membership beyond ACIP's past emphasis on expertise in immunization practices, a move that follows a federal judge's ruling that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. likely violated federal procedures when he revamped the CDC's influential vaccine panel in 2025. (Rudd, 4/9)
Also —
Bloomberg: RFK Jr. Has Stopped Talking About Vaccines. A Memo Shows Why
The Trump administration is putting Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on a low-risk messaging diet ahead of the midterm election. The Secretary of Health and Human Services has publicly and notably swallowed his trademark vaccine skepticism in recent weeks, even in front of the friendliest audiences. (Cohrs Zhang and Nix, 4/9)
The Guardian: As RFK Jr Allies Hailed Mississippi’s Rollback Of Strict School Vaccine Rules, Whooping Cough Surged And A Baby Died
When a federal judge in Mississippi ordered a sweeping rollback of the state’s strict school vaccine rules in 2023, the ruling hit some doctors like “a gut punch”. Mississippi had for years achieved some of the highest vaccination rates in the US for children – a point of pride in a place that consistently ranks at the bottom of other health measures. The state health director warned of the dire possible consequences, including a comeback of preventable illnesses like measles, diphtheria and pertussis – known as whooping cough. (Smith, 4/9)
AP: Too Young For Measles Vaccine, Babies Are 'Sitting Ducks' In Outbreaks
With baby Arthur too young for the measles vaccine and a sibling due in June, the Otwells grew nervous when the threat of the highly contagious virus started factoring into their grocery run. ... By Arthur’s 9-month checkup, the South Carolina outbreak had exploded into the nation’s worst in more than 35 years, surpassing last year’s in Texas. That meant that under state guidance, Arthur could get his first dose of the MMR vaccine — for measles, mumps and rubella — earlier than the usual 12 to 15 months old. (Shastri and Ungar, 4/10)
CIDRAP: Flu Vaccine May Cut Heart Attack, Stroke Risk Even When Infection Occurs
Influenza vaccination may help protect against heart attack and stroke even when it does not prevent people from getting the flu, according to a new study published in Eurosurveillance. (Bergeson, 4/9)
