Key Upcoming CDC Meeting Amid Upheaval
Beyond the theatrics over HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Senate hearing appearance last week, there are two things to watch:
A key upcoming CDC meeting; and
Shifting Senate support.
Key September Meeting to Monitor
September 18-19 brings a bellwether to watch; a key CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices meeting on routine childhood vaccines.
Why it Matters: Secretary Kennedy eliminated all members of the ACIP earlier this year and added new members aligned with his skepticism over vaccines.
This upcoming meeting is on routine vaccinations, with implications for the Vaccines for Children program.
Major changes would lead to renewed pressure amid shifting support for the HHS Secretary.
Shifting Support in the Senate
Last week Secretary Kennedy faced Senators grilling him over policy and personnel changes with implications for vaccine approval and access, ousting the CDC director, and abruptly halting mRNA funding.
Noteworthy: Cassidy’s Warning Shot After Shots Warning
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), a physician and the top Republican on the HELP committee, was the critical confirmation vote for Kennedy earlier this year.
At the hearing, he signaled buyer’s remorse—pressing for oversight after Kennedy reversed on confirmation hearing commitments to Cassidy on vaccine access.
This pivot matters; the confirmation coalition is showing signs of stress.
Shifting Support Signals Unclear Path on Vaccine Changes
No GOP senator pulled support outright, but the shift is palpable.
Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) warned bluntly: “I’m a doctor. Vaccines work.”
Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) went the other way, defending Kennedy and blasting colleagues for dodging blame on COVID.
In the context of the ACIP meeting, this eroding support will make major changes more likely to draw bipartisan challenges, and raise questions about HHS leadership.