Vaccine experts fired by Trump administration 'deeply concerned' by Robert F. Kennedy Jr
Vaccination experts recently fired by Donald Trump's administration sounded the alarm in a Monday editorial, saying they were "deeply concerned" by the actions of a US health secretary known for his vaccine skepticism. Last week, Robert F. Kennedy Jr dismissed all 17 members of a key advisory committee, accusing them of financial conflicts of interest.
Two days later, he announced the appointment of eight new members, including several vaccine critics, such as a biochemist who became the darling of the anti-vax movement. The unprecedented measure was roundly criticized by the Democratic opposition, as well as by several renowned experts and health authorities who expressed concern it represented an attack on medical expertise.
The 17 former members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, who advised the country's main health agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, published an editorial in the JAMA medical journal saying the ACIP was "at a crossroads."
"The abrupt dismissal of the entire membership of the ACIP... the appointment of 8 new ACIP members just 2 days later, and the recent reduction of CDC staff dedicated to immunizations have left the US vaccine program critically weakened," they warned.
"These actions have stripped the program of the institutional knowledge and continuity that have been essential to its success over decades," they added, denouncing the recent changes to Covid-19 vaccine policy announced by Kennedy on social media and which "appear to have bypassed the standard, transparent, and evidence-based review process."
"As former ACIP members, we are deeply concerned that these destabilizing decisions, made without clear rationale, may roll back the achievements of US immunization policy, impact people's access to lifesaving vaccines, and ultimately put US families at risk of dangerous and preventable illnesses."
RFK Jr in recent years has relayed numerous conspiracy theories about Covid vaccines and alleged links between vaccination and autism, notably through the Children's Health Defense organization he co-founded, which have long been debunked. Since becoming head of the US Department of Health and Human Services in February, he has initiated a major overhaul of health policy.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
France 24
an hour ago
- France 24
New York state to build nuclear power plant
Hochul tapped the New York Power Authority to develop a nuclear plant with combined capacity of at least one gigiwatt of electricity, according to a New York state press release. The project is targeted for upstate New York where Hochul, in a speech unveiling the plan, described several communities as being receptive because they "know these are good paying, long-term jobs." The move comes amid a revival in nuclear energy investments prompted in large part by large technology companies targeting the energy form as a source to fuel massive artificial intelligence data centers. Hochul referenced recent nuclear investments by tech giants Google, Amazon and Microsoft during her announcement. But she also tied the push to affordability concerns after a 2021 decision to permanently close a nuclear plant in Westchester County crimped supply. Hochul acknowledged that some residents had questions about safety but expressed confidence in "21st century nuclear design," she said. "My friends, it's coming and it's back and if we don't jump on, or lead this, they're going to pass us by," Hochul said. "These companies will go elsewhere." Energy companies have struggled to add nuclear capacity in the United States since a 1979 meltdown at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania. But in a sign of the shifting economic calculus around nuclear energy, the utility company Constellation, working with Microsoft, last year announced plans to reopen the facility due to the AI push. President Donald Trump last month signed an executive order last month to "reinvigorate" US nuclear energy, including by speeding up the building of new reactors and boosting domestic mining and enrichment of uranium. But Hochul said Trump will still need to take action to streamline federal permit issuance because getting US approval for nuclear plants can take 10 years or more.
Euronews
2 hours ago
- Euronews
Pakistan condemns Trump's bombing of Iran after backing him for Nobel Peace Prize
Pakistan has condemned the US President Donald Trump's decision to bomb Iran, a day after recommending him for a Nobel Peace Prize for defusing a recent crisis with India and describing him as "a genuine peacemaker". Islamabad on Sunday criticised Washington for attacking Iran, saying that the strikes "constituted a serious violation of international law" and the statute of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). "The unprecedented escalation of tension and violence, owing to ongoing aggression against Iran is deeply disturbing. Any further escalation of tensions will have severely damaging implications for the region and beyond," Pakistan's foreign ministry said. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in a phone call Sunday with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, expressed his concern that the bombings had targeted facilities that were under the safeguards of the IAEA. The US military struck three key Iranian nuclear sites early on Sunday, after more than a week of strikes by Israel on Iran. Pakistan has close ties with its neighbour Iran and supports its attacks on Israel, saying that it has the right to self-defence. Hundreds of Shiite Muslims in Karachi marched in protest against US and Israeli strikes on Iran on Sunday. Just a day earlier, Pakistan's government said in a post on X that it had decided to formally recommend Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize "in recognition of his decisive diplomatic intervention and pivotal leadership during the recent India-Pakistan crisis". Relations between the two South Asian countries plummeted after a massacre of tourists in Indian-controlled Kashmir in April. The nuclear-armed rivals stepped closer to conflict in the weeks that followed, attacking each other until intense diplomatic efforts, which were led by Washington, resulted in a truce for which Trump took credit. In its post on X, Islamabad said Trump had "demonstrated great strategic foresight and stellar statesmanship" and described him "as a genuine peacemaker". The recommendation came after a meeting between Trump and Pakistan's powerful army chief, Asim Munir, at the White House on Thursday. The meeting, which lasted more than two hours, was also attended by the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Special Representative for Middle Eastern Affairs Steve Witkoff. According to a Pakistani military statement, a detailed exchange of views took place on the "prevailing tensions between Iran and Israel, with both leaders emphasizing the importance of the resolution of the conflict". While Pakistan was quick to thank Trump for his intervention in its crisis with India, New Delhi played it down and said there was no need for external mediation on the Kashmir issue. The Himalayan region of Kashmir is divided between Pakistan and India but claimed by both in its entirety. India accuses Pakistan of backing militant groups in the region, which Islamabad denies.
Euronews
2 hours ago
- Euronews
Dutch police break up climate protest on highway ahead of NATO summit
Dutch police on Monday broke up a climate protest on a highway near The Hague and made several arrests ahead of the annual NATO summit. Dozens of climate activists attempted to block the A44 highway near Lisse, around 30 kilometres from the Hague, urging leaders to prioritise environmental issues and accelerate peacebuilding efforts. 'There is a meeting going on in the next few days from NATO where they talk about the security of the world, security of the West, but the climate crisis is not on the agenda," said one demonstrator. 'We think it is important that it comes on the agenda because it is an even larger threat from Russia," they added. Over the weekend, hundreds of protesters took to the streets of the city to show their discontent with NATO's defence spending and the threat of war with Iran. More demonstrations are set to take place in The Hague on Tuesday and Wednesday as NATO leaders such as US President Donald Trump arrive for the summit. It will be protected by the biggest ever Dutch security operation, code-named "Orange Shield". US allies have ramped up defence spending since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than three years ago, but almost a third of them still don't meet NATO's current target of at least 2% of their gross domestic product. The heads of government want to hammer out an agreement on a hike in defence spending demanded by Trump, which would raise the spending to 5% of GDP. The new target will see allies finance a five-fold increase in air defence capabilities, the purchase of "thousands" more tanks and armoured vehicles and "millions of rounds" of artillery ammunition, NATO's chief Mark Rutte said on Monday on the eve of the summit.
