AMA launches independent review of flu, COVID-19, and RSV vaccines amid CDC panel controversy
A major review of key vaccines is set to begin, focusing on immunizations for flu, COVID-19, and RSV. The American Medical Association (AMA) has raised concerns about recent changes to the expert panel advising the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
In June 2025, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. removed all 17 members of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). He replaced them with new appointees, many of whom have publicly questioned vaccine safety in the past.
The AMA has criticized the overhaul, citing worries about the committee's independence. To address these concerns, the AMA will now conduct its own evaluation of the vaccines. This review will be carried out alongside the Vaccine Integrity Project at the University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP).
The AMA's assessment will cover three major vaccines: flu, COVID-19, and RSV. The findings will provide an independent analysis separate from the newly restructured ACIP. The results are expected to inform public health recommendations moving forward.
