RFK Jr. faces new vaccine probe as Democrats hone midterm issue

Daniel covers the intersection of the health industry and the federal government. He reports on corporate influence in government, the health consequences of federal policies, and the politics of health care. Confidential tips can be sent on Signal at danielp.100.

WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats are opening an inquiry into the Trump administration’s remaking of federal vaccine policy, demanding officials produce records by next week.

In a letter to health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. viewed by STAT, Senate Finance Committee Democrats Ron Wyden (Ore.) and Maggie Hassan (N.H.) denounced the changes Kennedy has made to federal vaccine policy, focusing on the remaking of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Last year, Kennedy fired all previous members of ACIP and packed the panel with vaccine-skeptical allies.

The Democrats requested documents, including records of messages, that could indicate who made and approved the decision to revamp ACIP, the risks that were considered before making the change, and the vetting process for the new members of the committee — saying they want to “assess the legality, decision-making process, and public health consequences” of the committee’s overhaul.