RFK Jr. to defund global vaccine group, citing safety concerns
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said funding is halted for an organization that offers free vaccines for meningitis, malaria, and other diseases.
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Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has suddenly postponed a meeting from another key federal advisory panel responsible for making health recommendations on preventative care.
Members at the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force were notified by email that the Immediate Office of the Secretary is postponing the in-person meeting scheduled for July 10, according to someone with knowledge of the situation not authorized to speak publicly.
The move rings alarm bells as it mirrors the secretary’s actions firing all 17 members of another federal advisory panel at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in June, said Dr. Aaron Carroll, CEO of AcademyHealth, a nonprofit medical group.
It also follows a recent Supreme Court decision that clarified Kennedy can remove task force members at will and can review their recommendations before they take effect.
The postponed meeting “is concerning,” Carroll said. “Given what’s just happened with ACIP, there’s a real fear that this could happen again with USPSTF.”
USA TODAY reached out to HHS for comment.
Adrianna Rodriguez can be reached at adrodriguez@usatoday.com.
