STAT+: Senate Democrats demand HHS provide records on federal vaccine policy

Senate Democrats demanded records from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regarding changes to federal vaccine policy on March 18, 2024. Senators Ron Wyden and Maggie Hassan, members of the Senate Finance Committee, sent a letter to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. expressing concern over his administration's overhaul of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). The letter specifically references Kennedy's decision last year to dismiss all previous ACIP members and appoint individuals described as vaccine-skeptical. Democrats are requesting documentation, including communications, to understand who initiated and approved the ACIP restructuring, the potential risks evaluated prior to the changes, and the vetting procedures for the newly appointed committee members. The stated objective of this inquiry is to evaluate the legality, decision-making framework, and public health implications stemming from the committee's transformation.