RFK Jr.’s Vaccine Panel Appointments Raise Concerns Over Qualifications and Potential for Misinformation
washington D.C. – Recent appointments to a federal advisory panel on vaccines by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now chairing the panel, are drawing scrutiny from public health experts who cite a lack of relevant experience among some members and a history of promoting vaccine misinformation. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP),which advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on vaccine recommendations,is poised to perhaps reshape vaccination policy as it convenes with a newly constituted group.
Among the appointees is Dr. Milhoan, a senior fellow at the Self-reliant Medical Alliance (formerly the Front Line Covid-19 Critical Care Alliance), who in March told KFF Health News, ”We should stop it and test it more before we move forward.” The Independent Medical Alliance has previously promoted ivermectin as a Covid treatment,despite evidence of its ineffectiveness and potential safety risks. dr. Milhoan faced complaints to the Hawaii medical board and challenges to his medical license, though his license was ultimately upheld.
Evelyn Griffin, previously an obstetrician/gynecologist who now focuses on “holistic health,” shifted her focus and at a May 2024 “Louisiana health freedom day” event, implied vaccines are unsafe, stating, “When the [Covid] vaccine came out, they blindly believed that the vaccine had no harm.” She also participated in a “Stop Vax Passports” webinar, discussing her experiences “treating post-injection women” and “defeating vaccine mandates for children in Louisiana.”
Hillary Blackburn, a pharmacist and daughter-in-law of Sen. Marsha blackburn, recently suggested vaccines may cause autoimmune issues. raymond Pollak, a transplant surgeon, has a limited public profile.
The Evidence Collective has documented over 50 falsehoods stemming from the first meeting of the new ACIP group.
The ACIP can have up to 19 members,leaving six positions still open. The typical vetting and training process for new advisors usually takes months, or even years.
“The timing is quite bad,” said Steier. “We have measles outbreaks happening now. Respiratory virus season is coming. Policy changes based on misinterpreted data will have immediate, real-world consequences. Frankly, even if the votes end up in favor of these vaccines, so much damage is being done through these public shows of vaccine skepticism and anti-vaccine rhetoric.”
