HHS orders CDC to halt some vaccine ads, saying RFK Jr. wants message focused on ‘informed consent’ Experts fear effort to recalibrate tone could dampen vaccine uptake

https://www.statnews.com/2025/02/20/cdc-vaccine-promotions-rfk-jr-informed-consent/?utm_campaign=morning_rounds&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--_MV_SezAGgu9sKlWPhtP9g3iRiogIICVjLnsX1CQs6EB54o9sJ3pgK53CIcDo1RdlElnM2OdlyfdCyIk8BKsVPOzYSw&_hsmi=348291083&utm_content=348291083&utm_source=hs_email A week after Robert F. Kennedy, Jr was sworn in as Health and Human Services chief, his influence on federal health agencies is manifesting. First, STAT’s Helen Branswell reports that the committee of experts that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on vaccine policy — a group that Kennedy has publicly denounced — postponed their first meeting since Trump was inaugurated. Public health experts have been concerned about the future of this committee, and one expert said the postponement “raises suspicions that Mr. Kennedy will not keep his word to Senator [Bill] Cassidy that he will not interfere with ACIP recommendations.” Second, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was ordered to shelve promotions for several vaccines, including the catchy “Wild to Mild” advertising campaign for the flu shot. Kennedy wants to replace the advertisements with others that promote the idea of “informed consent” in vaccine decision-making. Shifting the framing of advertising for vaccines that the CDC has long recommended — like flu shots — to more heavily focus on the risks of vaccines could undermine people’s willingness to get vaccinated, or to have their children immunized, public health experts warned. Helen, again, brings us the scoop. https://www.statnews.com/2025/02/20/acip-cdc-vaccine-meeting-postponed/?utm_campaign=morning_rounds&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9KlFmiERhotKTA0_qoqbq3pGm-PVqX-AzK9l9mYUSEmSu-pZX44K840veC1hNv-G852tKsCVFI3PI2gojODKtYXKe_rQ&_hsmi=348291083&utm_content=348291083&utm_source=hs_email