Vaccine policy & outbreak response

Federal vaccine policy and outbreak response covers HHS immunization leadership, vaccine advisory panel appointments, measles outbreak management, and federal-state coordination on vaccination programs. RFK Jr.'s tenure as HHS secretary brought significant changes to vaccine advisory committees, including replacing scientific experts on the US Preventive Services Task Force and the Federal Autism Advisory Committee.

Measles outbreaks in Pennsylvania and Virginia drew scrutiny of the federal response, with Republican Senator Bill Cassidy blaming Trump vaccine policy for measles deaths. Colorado launched an independent vaccine promotion campaign as the federal government pulled back. HHS sought public feedback on vaccine recommendation categories after a Trump executive order.