HHS revives child vaccine safety panel sought by anti-vaccine activists

Source: Washington Post

August 14, 2025 at 2:39 p.m. EDT


The Department of Health and Human Services announced Thursday it is reviving a long-defunct task force aimed at improving the safety of childhood vaccines, fulfilling a demand of anti-vaccine activists.

The resurrection of the panel appears to be the first concrete step to achieve HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s longtime goal of upending the current childhood immunization schedule, which recommends which shots children receive and when.

The task force will make recommendations focused on developing and refining childhood vaccines that result in “fewer and less serious adverse reactions,” improving the reporting of adverse reactions and supporting research on vaccine safety, according to HHS. The first report will be sent to Congress within two years.

“By reinstating this Task Force, we are reaffirming our commitment to rigorous science, continuous improvement, and the trust of American families," Jay Bhattacharya, the head of the National Institutes of Health who will lead the task force, said in a statement. “NIH is proud to lead this effort to advance vaccine safety and support innovation that protects children without compromise."

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/08/14/rfk-vaccine-safety-task-force/