ASCP Voices Concern Over Disbanding of ACIP

On June 9, 2025, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr. terminated all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), an advisory panel that provides crucial guidance on vaccine safety, including schedules and dosing. While Secretary Kennedy stated that the move was aimed to “rebuild public trust and eliminate perceived conflicts of interest,” it has sparked significant concern among leading U.S. health organizations— including ASCP—over the spread of misinformation about evidence-based medicine and the further erosion of public confidence in vaccine science. 

The move by the HHS Secretary is particularly concerning in light of rising cases of preventable diseases in the U.S., such as measles, mumps, rubella, and pertussis (whooping cough). Additionally, by replacing the entire committee with new members, some of whom have expressed vaccine skepticism or lack relevant expertise, there is potential for significant loss of crucial institutional memory and the committee's ability to maintain scientific rigor. 

In response to the Secretary’s actions, the American Medical Association (AMA) passed an emergency resolution during the 2025 AMA House of Delegates meeting, of which ASCP delegates were a part. The emergency resolution called for the “immediate reversal” of the changes to ACIP and urged the Senate Health, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee to investigate the removals. ASCP Delegates supported the resolution as part of the Pathology Section Council (PSC), which is comprised of delegates from the American Society of Cytopathology, ASCP, the College of American Pathologists, and the National Association of Medical Examiners. The emergency resolution yielded a joint letter, signed on June 18, to the HHS Secretary expressing these strong concerns, calling for transparency and accountability in the vaccine oversight process. Numerous organizations have issued similar responses.  

ASCP’s AMA delegation actively engages in pertinent policy discussions with partner organizations and exemplifies leadership in representing the field to colleagues at the AMA. The members of ASCP’s AMA delegation include Ed Donoghue, MD, MASCP; Jennifer Stall, MD, FASCP; ASCP Past Presidents Steve Kroft, MD, MASCP, and William Finn, MD, MASCP; as well as H. Clifford Sullivan, MD, FASCP; Nirali M. Patel, MD, FASCP; and Peter DeRosa, MD, FASCP. Additionally, Ebruphiyo Okpako, MD, FASCP, and Katerina Kearns, MD, FASCP, represent ASCP on the Resident and Fellow Section. AMA will host the Interim Annual Meeting in November, and ASCP will report on any issues that arise.