Concerns about independence aired by ACIP chair: 'Puppets on a string'

The newly appointed leader of the CDCs vaccine advisory committee privately voiced worries regarding the autonomy of the panel, according to a transcript obtained by POLITICO. Kirk Milhoan, named chair of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) earlier this week, described feeling that members were like puppets on a string instead of independent advisers.

Both Milhoan and a spokesperson from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) clarified that his comment was not directed at the administration, but rather at other external pressures influencing the committee.

The remark, made during a lunch break in the two-day meeting where the committee voted to end the universal birth dose recommendation for hepatitis B vaccines, was overheard on a sound feed accessible to medical associations, healthcare providers, and industry representatives. Milhoan told POLITICO via text that he was referencing federal agencies, industry, and medical organizations exerting influence through personal attacks, while the panel was focused on reviewing data objectively.

HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon explained that Milhoan was referring to the liaison representatives, who had persistently challenged the committees work over the previous two days. Although no official audio recording was available, two sources present confirmed Milhoans puppet comment.

Milhoan also expressed concerns about the workload on the committee and wished for more time to deliberate on complex issues. A pediatric cardiologist and former Air Force flight surgeon, Milhoan assumed the chair position after former leader Martin Kulldorf, a Harvard biostatistician, moved to a senior role within HHS. Both Milhoan and ACIP member Cody Meissner, a pediatrics professor at Dartmouth, attended the meeting virtually.

According to the transcript, Milhoan joined ACIP with the goal of restoring public confidence in vaccines, which has declined since the Covid-19 pandemic. His comments followed the committees vote to discontinue recommending the hepatitis B birth dose for all newborns, a measure previously supported by vaccine skeptics. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had also questioned the necessity of the birth dose before assuming his role.

Author: Ethan Caldwell