(Reuters) -A newly appointed panel of vaccine advisers by U.S. Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. is now down to seven after a member withdrew ahead of the committee’s first meeting, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said on Tuesday.
Earlier in June, Kennedy had named eight members to serve on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC)Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP), including several who have advocated against vaccines, after abruptly firing all 17 members of the independent committee of experts.
“Dr. Michael Ross decided to withdraw from ACIP during the financial holdings review required of members before they can start work on the committee,” HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon said in a statement, adding the committee would have benefited from his service and expertise.
The New York Times first reported the news on Ross’ departure.
A list of voting members for the panel on the CDC’s website didn’t feature Ross’ name, as of Tuesday night.
The panel, which advises the U.S. CDC on who should get the shots after they are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is due to meet on June 25 and 26.
It will vote on the safety of flu shots and discuss proposed recommendations for use of the combined MMRV vaccine for children under 5 years of age, according to a draft agenda on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website last week.
A review on the use of the preservative thimerosal in vaccines will also be presented by Lyn Redwood on Thursday during the meeting, a former leader of the anti-vaccine group Children’s Health Defense.
(Reporting by Anusha Shah and Rhea Rose Abraham in Bengaluru; Editing by Kim Coghill)
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