US EditionRFK Jr. Names 21 New Members to Federal Autism Committee
The committee now favors parent advocates over scientists, raising concerns about bias and impact on autism research and policy, as critics highlight a shift toward vaccine skepticism.
- On Wednesday, the Department of Health and Human Services announced the appointment of 21 new public members to the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee to advise Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., while federal members are yet to be named.
- Secretary Kennedy has reshaped federal panels to reflect his views on autism and vaccines, a pattern that included replacing CDC vaccine advisers last year and offering parents more seats than established autism scientists.
- The new roster includes clinicians and advocates such as Sylvia Fogel, MD, Daniel Rossignol, MD, John Rodakis, and autistic adult Caden Larson, many tied to advocacy groups with vaccine-related views.
- Experts say sidelining evidence-based research risks harm to autistic people, with David S. Mandell, ScD, stating, `The group appears stacked to give Secretary Kennedy political cover to continue his assault on life-saving vaccines and to promote unproven treatments.`
- STAT reported the IACC held a new-member orientation last week; its website last lists a meeting on Jan. 14, 2025, and the charter requires three members diagnosed with autism, three parents/guardians, and three representing research and advocacy.
16 Articles
16 Articles
The Seattle Times
Kennedy overhauls federal autism panel in his own image
The new panel, which advises the government on research and service priorities for people with autism, includes many members who have argued that vaccines cause the disorder.
RFK Jr.’s New Autism Advisers Set Sights on ‘Many Unanswered Questions’
by Michael Nevradakis, Ph.D., Childrens Health Defense: Nine new members have joined the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee, which provides “advice and recommendations” on autism to U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. John Gilmore, executive director of the Autism Action Network, said he and the other new members “are picking up the pieces following a […]
RFK Jr. picks promoters of debunked vaccine-autism claims for key panel
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has reshaped a key federal autism advisory board, appointing members who have echoed his controversial views, including promoting debunked claims linking vaccines to autism.
ACIP Chair Wonders Aloud If We Should Really Be Vaccinating For Polio These Days
The travesty that is RFK Jr. in charge of American health and what he's done to the CDC's ACIP committee for vaccines continues to be visited upon all of us. It's really important to keep in mind that during his confirmation hearings, Kennedy lied repeatedly about his stance on vaccines. Supposedly serious senators, like Bill…
Kennedy resets federal autism panel with new lineup of 21 members
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Wednesday remade a federal panel that guides national autism policy, naming a new slate of 21 members that includes some with ties to groups promoting unproven claims that link vaccines to autism.
RFK Jr. Names 21 New Members to Federal Autism Committee
(MedPage Today) -- HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has appointed 21 new members to the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC), many of whom have a history of criticizing vaccines. IACC is a federal advisory committee that coordinates...
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