A leading Senate Republican on U.S. health policy says avaccine advisory paneloverhauled by Health SecretaryRobert F. Kennedy Jr.should delay a looming meeting amid questions about experience and potential bias of some newly-appointed members. Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican and physician, questioned in a June 24 social mediapostwhether some new members Kennedy appointed to the vaccine panel have a "preconceived bias" against a vaccine technology and whether they have the collective experience needed. He urged the panel to postpone its next session scheduled to begin on June 25. Cassidy's concerns came afterKennedy, one of President Donald Trump's Cabinet secretaries, on June 9 fired all 17 members of the panel, which is called the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP. Two days later, Kennedy appointedeight new members to ACIP, including some who have been skeptical about vaccines. "Although the appointees to ACIP have scientific credentials, many do not have significant experience studying microbiology, epidemiology or immunology," Cassidy, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, said in the X post. "In particular, some lack experience studying new technologies such as mRNA vaccines, and may even have a preconceived bias against them." Cassidy invited "robust and transparent scientific discussion" as long as it is "rooted in evidence and understanding." He added that the ACIP 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." More:RFK Jr. faces blowback from senators, former vaccine committee members after firings Without such balanced representation, Cassidy said, ACIP's recommendations "could be viewed with skepticism, which will work against the success of this administration's efforts." Cassidyprovided one of the key votesand endorsements for Kennedy during hisconfirmation hearingsearlier this year. To secure his support, Cassidy said he received assurances that Trump's pick to oversee the nation's health agencies would not tamper with ACIP. "If confirmed, he will maintain the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices without changes," Cassidy said during Kennedy's confirmation hearing. Appearing before a House panel on June 24, Kennedy denied he promised Cassidy to not change the ACIP. "I never made that agreement," Kennedy said in response to a question from Rep. Kim Schrier, D-Washington. "If he said that I agreed to it, it would be inaccurate." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:RFK, Cassidy clash over vaccine committee firings
