US Sen. Bill Cassidy takes steps to ensure public’s trust in vaccines

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Louisiana First) – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy is calling for a meeting of the Advisory Council on Immunization Practices, or ACIP, which is scheduled for Wednesday at CDC headquarters, to be postponed.

This is after a major shake-up of that group by Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr.

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy said he’s working closely with R.F.K., Jr., trying to guide him to choices that will not erode public confidence in vaccines.

This comes after R.F.K., Jr., in his role as Secretary of Health and Human Services, removed all 17 members of the committee.

“I’m doing this wanting to support the administration,” said Cassidy. “I want the administration to be successful, so everything I wrote is there to hopefully support the administration to help them get something that is more credible and something that has more standing. I know they’re actively interviewing others to fill those positions. I have actually submitted several names to be considered, so they’re actively interviewing.”

The CDC said Kennedy has since named eight new members to the committee, who are scheduled to have their first meeting Wednesday, which leaves several vacancies by that time.

“Those new appointees will not be on the panel by then, and for the Secretary, he’ll come on a regularly scheduled visit. There will not be an extra visit, if you will, but he’s scheduled to come see us every quarter,” Cassidy said.

Senator Cassidy said the following on X:

“Although the appointees to ACIP have scientific credentials, many do not have significant experience studying microbiology, epidemiology or immunology. In particular, some lack experience studying new technologies such as mRNA vaccines, and may even have a preconceived bias against them. Robust and transparent scientific discussion is important, so long as it is rooted in evidence and understanding. Wednesday’s meeting should not proceed with a relatively small panel, and no CDC Director in place to approve the panel’s recommendations. The meeting should be delayed until the panel is fully staffed with more robust and balanced representation—as required by law—including those with more direct relevant expertise. Otherwise, ACIP’s recommendations could be viewed with skepticism, which will work against the success of this Administration’s efforts.”

Sen. Bill Cassidy

The ACIP plans to meet to discuss and vote on recommendations for various vaccines. That meeting will be available for public viewing on the CDC’s website.

Cassidy said that although he called for the postponement of the meeting, it is still scheduled to go on as planned.

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