3 chapters across the catalog
Former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, who serves on the board of Pfizer, expressed alarm over the CDC's decision to delay the Hepatitis B dose. He argued that the advisory committee (ACIP) is being degraded by "anti-vax activists" and that its decisions will no longer be respected by states or insurers. Gottlieb emphasized the risks of chronic infection in children under five, while the hosts suggest the shift is a necessary move toward informed consent and removing pharma indemnification.
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. retired all members of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), sparking intense media backlash. Critics claim the move will limit "access" to vaccines, while Kennedy argues a "clean sweep" is necessary to remove conflicts of interest. The administration maintains that while the panel is being replaced, the underlying vaccine recommendations remain currently unchanged.
Dr. Celine Gounder defended the dismissed ACIP members on CBS, dismissing reports of conflicts of interest as mere "clerical errors" regarding dates. However, a 2009 Inspector General report found that 97% of financial disclosure forms had omissions and 64% of members had potential conflicts that the CDC failed to resolve. The data suggests a systemic failure in ethics training and financial transparency within the committee.
