Revamped Federal Vaccine Panel to Review Key Recommendations in September

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), recently restructured by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., will meet September 18–19 to review vaccine recommendations for COVID-19, hepatitis B, and measles, according to a federal notice. RSV vaccines may also be discussed. This will be the panel’s second meeting since Kennedy dismissed all 17 former members and replaced them with seven new advisers.

At its first session, the reconstituted ACIP questioned the safety and effectiveness of COVID vaccines and revisited debates on preservatives long deemed safe by regulators. Since then, Kennedy has limited COVID vaccine access by revoking emergency authorizations and narrowing eligibility. Currently, vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax are broadly available to adults 65 and older, with restrictions for younger adults and children. Analysts warn ACIP could recommend against boosters for 2025–26, ending insurance coverage. Ultimately, Kennedy holds authority to approve or reject ACIP’s decisions.

08-09-2025