RFK Jr Reshapes CDC Vaccine Dashboard With New OB/GYN Appointments
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Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Tuesday reshuffled the CDC’s powerful vaccine panel and named two obstetricians-gynecologists (OB-GYNs) as part of his push to overhaul the country’s immunization policy.
Kennedy, a longtime vaccine skeptic who has embraced the “Make America Healthy Again” agenda, named Dr. Adam Urato, an obstetrician-gynecologist specializing in maternal-fetal medicine, and Dr. Kimberly Biss, an obstetrician-gynecologist based in St. Petersburg, Florida, to the panel, which plays a central role in shaping federal vaccine recommendations.
Jim O’Neill, assistant secretary of health and human services and acting director of the CDC, said the changes are part of a broader effort to ensure vaccine policies are driven by scientific data.
“President Trump asked us to align the childhood vaccination schedule with the scientific gold standard,” O’Neill said. “ACIP is doing just that. Our new ACIP members have the clinical expertise to make decisions based on evidence, not dogma.”
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U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks during a policy announcement at the Department of Health and Human Services on January 8, 2026, in Washington, DC. The Trump administration recently announced new dietary guidelines that emphasize protein and full-fat dairy, while limiting processed foods. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
The panel, formally known as the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), advises the CDC director and the HHS secretary on vaccine use and the country’s vaccination schedule.
In June, Kennedy fired all existing members of the vaccine panel, saying the move was necessary to restore public trust and reduce conflicts of interest. The committee was later reconstituted with new members aligned with its views on vaccine safety, transparency and scientific rigor.
One of the new appointees, Urato, previously criticized the CDC’s COVID-19 vaccine guidelines for pregnant women, arguing that safety assurances were issued before sufficient data was available. Supporters say his appointment brings necessary scrutiny to federal health guidelines, while critics warn it could undermine confidence in the vaccines.
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Officials said the move aligns with President Trump’s call to align the childhood vaccination schedule with the “scientific gold standard.” (REUTERS/Lindsey Wasson)
Since then, the reconstituted panel has reviewed several long-standing recommendations, including guidance traditionally supported by top public health officials. Those changes culminated earlier this year in a major overhaul of the CDC’s childhood immunization schedule.
In January 2026, CDC officials, acting under the Trump administration and Kennedy’s direction, revised the U.S. childhood vaccine schedule, reducing the number of universally recommended vaccines from about 17 to about 11.
Several vaccines (including influenza, rotavirus, hepatitis A and B, some meningococcal vaccines, and RSV) are no longer widely recommended and now fall under shared decision making or are recommended only for high-risk groups.
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A small child receives a vaccine. (iStock)
Last week, the administration also released new dietary guidelines that prioritize high-quality proteins, healthy fats, fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
The guidelines encourage Americans to avoid highly processed foods and refined carbohydrates, another pillar of Kennedy’s broader “Make America Healthy Again” agenda.