The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) canceled the February meeting of a key vaccine advisory panel. This decision comes amid tensions in the Donald Trump administration and legal battles over the committee's legitimacy. Simultaneously, the government of Guinea-Bissau definitively halted U.S.-funded research on the hepatitis B vaccine for newborns, following scathing criticism from the World Health Organization and international scientific communities.

Cancellation of February ACIP Summit

The meeting of CDC advisors in Atlanta was halted due to political pressure and an ongoing legal battle in Boston.

End of Research in Africa

The government of Guinea-Bissau definitively ended the U.S. study on the hepatitis B vaccine, which the WHO deemed completely unethical.

Influence of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The new health secretary aims for a radical change in U.S. vaccine policy, paralyzing the work of existing advisory structures.

A key advisory body in the U.S. healthcare system, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), is facing unprecedented turbulence. Its meeting planned for late February was canceled, and a new date, though tentatively indicated for mid-March, has not been officially confirmed. This decision correlates with actions by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who aims for a fundamental revision of U.S. vaccine policy. In the background, a significant legal process is underway in Boston, where pediatricians are challenging the panel's constitutional authority and legitimacy to issue nationwide recommendations. The situation within the Donald Trump administration remains tense, particularly regarding calls to withdraw COVID-19 vaccines from the market. The CDC has traditionally based its guidelines on ACIP votes, but the current leadership of the Department of Health and Human Services shows greater skepticism toward existing standards. The American vaccine recommendation system has been based on the ACIP panel since its establishment in 1964, and its decisions directly influence which vaccinations are required in schools and reimbursed by insurers. In parallel, on the international stage, the government of Guinea-Bissau announced the complete termination of a controversial research project. The study, funded by the U.S. administration, aimed to investigate alleged links between the hepatitis B vaccine and autism and side effects in newborns. Hepatitis B is a serious problem in West Africa, but the study's methodology was deemed unethical and non-compliant with scientific standards by the WHO. Guinea-Bissau's Foreign Minister, João Bernardo Vieira, cut speculation short with the statement: "This will not happen, period," ending the diplomatic dispute surrounding this project. Guinea-Bissau is one of the world's poorest countries, which has repeatedly been a site for international medical research in the past, raising concerns about the exploitation of a population lacking access to basic healthcare.„This will not happen, period.” — João Bernardo Vieira USA: 91, Guinea-Bissau: 78, Global Average: 84

Mentioned People

  • Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, aiming to change vaccine policy.
  • Donald Trump — President of the United States, whose administration funded controversial research in Africa.
  • João Bernardo Vieira — Foreign Minister of Guinea-Bissau, who announced the halt of the research.