US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has changed the rules governing the composition of a key advisory committee on vaccines, following a court ruling that challenged the legality of its previous restructuring. This reform comes amid heightened tensions surrounding vaccination policy in the United States.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), tasked with advising health authorities on the use of vaccines, had seen its composition profoundly reshaped by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. However, a federal judge ruled in March that these changes violated the law, particularly due to a lack of expertise among some of the appointed members.
In his ruling, Judge Brian Murphy emphasized that the committee failed to meet legal requirements, which mandate specific expertise in vaccine research and use. He also suspended the panel's decisions, weakening the Department of Health's efforts in this area.
In response, the Ministry of Health published a new charter broadening the criteria for membership in the committee. This reform aims to allow for greater diversity of profiles and more flexibility in appointments, while complying with legal requirements.
The ministry presented this update as a "routine" administrative procedure related to the renewal of the committee's mandate. At this stage, the administration has not indicated whether it will appeal the court decision.
This development illustrates the persistent debates surrounding the governance of public health policies in the United States, in a context where vaccine-related issues remain particularly sensitive.
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