Pallone Urges ACIP to Reject Secretary Kennedy’s Dangerous Anti-Vaccine Agenda

Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) released the following statement today as the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) convenes to consider a series of proposals that would restrict access to vaccines:

“As ACIP gathers for its December meeting, I urge the panel members to think twice before following through with Secretary Kennedy’s efforts to take away vaccines from Americans.

“In no uncertain terms, children will needlessly die or suffer lifelong complications if the panel follows through with Secretary Kennedy’s wish list. I’m deeply concerned about the tragic impacts of restricting access to the birth dose of the Hepatitis B vaccine, which has a long public health history of saving tens of thousands of lives.

“Changing ACIP recommendations for the Hepatitis B vaccination could upend access for the more than half of American children who rely on the federal Vaccines for Children program to receive the vaccines they need. I’m also worried that ACIP’s actions will result in severe supply chain disruptions that could prevent children from accessing critical vaccinations and lead to outbreaks of preventable diseases across the country.

“ACIP has a responsibility to the American people to adhere to evidence-based scientific rigor and medical expertise, not to rubber-stamp Secretary Kennedy’s anti-vaccine agenda. I urge the panel members to do the right thing and protect access to vaccines.”

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