NEWSROOM

A member of an influential federal vaccine advisory panel made a dramatic claim Thursday afternoon that the panel had been disbanded following a temporary block by a federal judge and would be entirely reconstituted—again. But, just hours later, he retracted the claim, saying that it was merely a possibility -- and DPH points out that whatever HHS does, they need to follow the law.

Utter chaos unfolded March 19 as officials sent conflicting signals over whether or not the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices was being shut down (apparently not, at last report). DPH Coordinating Committee member Bruce Mirken tells The Guardian, "Congress needs to impeach Kennedy now and put a stop to this grotesque circus.”

IFL Science covers the recent injunction by Federal courts against RFK Jr's changes to vaccine policies and the Advisory Committee on Immunization (ACIP). Defend Public Health Coordinating Committee Member Beth Jacobs and other health experts speak about the immediate impacts and the ongoing battles needed to safeguard public health against the Trump Administration's overhaul of health agencies.

In a wide ranging interview, Defend Public Health member Alicia Ely Yamin talks about her work bringing a human rights lens to mental health system across the globe and how her work with DPH is helping her through these challenging times and conceptualizing better health systems in the future.

Although a federal judge in Boston has temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s changes to the US childhood immunization schedule, the US Supreme Court could have two chances over the next year to weigh in on the decision, legal experts say -- with comments on the Boston ruling from DPH Coordinating Committee member Elizabeth Jacobs.

This chemical and pharmaceutical industry publication writes, "Many health scientists and practitioners are breathing a sigh of relief following a court decision that effectively reversed every change to US vaccine policy made since Health and Human Services secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took office last February. But for many children, irreversible damage has already been done" -- quoting DPH Coordinating Committee member Elizabeth Jacobs and other experts.

In this takedown of RFK Jr's unethical proposed (and now paused) study of Hepatitis B vaccination in the African nation of Guinea-Bissau cites DPH member Jessica Malaty Rivera's comment that “No ethical board in the U.S. would ever approve of something like this."

In the case American Academy of Pediatrics v. Kennedy, a federal judge has at least temporarily blocked the anti-vaccine actions of HHS Secretary Kennedy's handpicked vaccine advisors. DPH Coordinating Committee member Elizabeth Jacobs and law professor and DPH member Dorit Reiss, who co-authored DPH's amicus briefs in the case, join other experts in explaining to Forbes why this is a win for public health.

The appointment of a controversial slate of vaccine advisers by Robert F Kennedy Jr likely violated federal law, and all votes taken by the committee over the past year have been stayed, a federal judge ruled on Monday -- with comments from DPH Coordinating Committee member Elizabeth Jacobs

In this call to action for scientists and healthcare workers, DPH Coordinating Committee member Gregg Gonsalves writes, "We also have the ability to throw sand in the gears. Tell that ICE officer to get out of the examining room. Speak up for scientists and researchers whose work is being targeted at your institutions. Stand up for departments under siege. Do not let your students face harassment or worse alone. Show up for hearings to stop MAHA zealots from undermining vaccine access in your town or your state."