New ACIP members named as long-awaited vaccine meeting nears

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has welcomed five new members appointed by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. These new members bring a diverse range of expertise to the panel, including infectious disease, pediatrics, pharmacy, gynecology, and epidemiology.

One of the appointees, Kirk Milhoan, is a pediatric cardiologist with a Ph.D. in myocardial inflammation. Milhoan has been vocal about his concerns regarding Covid-19 vaccines, claiming that they may lead to cardiovascular toxicity due to the spike protein. He has authored papers suggesting that mRNA vaccines could cause more cases of myocarditis than the virus itself. However, regulatory bodies worldwide have deemed the vaccines safe and effective.

Hillary Blackburn, a pharmacist and medication access director at Ascension, joins the panel with a background in pharmacy consulting and medication redistribution for low-income patients. Evelyn Griffin, a physician specializing in lifestyle and root-cause medicine, has experience in robotic-assisted gynecologic surgery and has advocated for functional and naturopathic medicine.

Raymond Pollak, a physician licensed in Illinois and Florida, has been involved in whistleblower cases against hospitals for unnecessary medical procedures. He has a prolific publication record and has led research projects on transplant biology and drug trials. Catherine Stein, an infectious disease epidemiologist at Case Western Reserve University, focuses her research on tuberculosis and genetic susceptibility to infectious diseases.

These new members will join the ACIP in their upcoming meeting to discuss recommendations related to Covid-19 vaccines and pediatric immunization schedules. The panel’s decisions will play a crucial role in shaping national vaccine policy, especially in light of recent controversies surrounding vaccine mandates and safety concerns.

With a diverse set of expertise and backgrounds, the new ACIP members are poised to contribute valuable insights and perspectives to the panel’s discussions and recommendations. Their appointments reflect a commitment to ensuring that public health decisions are informed by a wide range of expertise and viewpoints.