WASHINGTON — US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has dismissed all 17 members of the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel (ACIP), citing the need to rebuild public trust with a more transparent and unbiased group.

Kennedy claimed the panel was compromised by conflicts of interest and had never rejected a vaccine, though critics argue this move is politically motivated and undermines scientific integrity.

Former health officials and lawmakers from both parties expressed alarm, fearing the new panel may lack proper vaccine expertise. Kennedy has long questioned vaccine safety, a stance at odds with established science.

The ACIP advises on who should receive FDA-approved vaccines, with its recommendations shaping CDC schedules and insurance coverage. A new panel is expected before its next meeting on June 25.