Cassidy and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. clashed over Kennedy's overhaul of ACIP during today's HHS budget hearing.

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) wants the committee that advises the CDC on vaccines to delay its next meeting, scheduled for later this week, citing concerns that the newly appointed members are biased against vaccines.

In a late Monday post on X, Cassidy said the meeting, scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, "should not proceed with a relatively small panel, and no CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] Director in place to approve the panel's recommendations."

Cassidy said the meeting should instead be delayed until the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) "is fully staffed with more robust and balanced representation."

He added:

"Although the appointees to ACIP have scientific credentials, many do not have significant experience studying microbiology, epidemiology or immunology. In particular, some lack experience studying new technologies such as mRNA vaccines, and may even have a preconceived bias against them."

ACIP makes vaccine-related recommendations to the CDC director, who has the discretion to accept or reject them. The CDC's acting director was Susan Monarez, Ph.D. She stepped down in March when she was nominated for the permanent director's position. Last month, Kennedy reported that attorney Matthew Buzzelli is currently acting director, while Monarez awaits U.S. Senate confirmation hearings.

Mary Holland, CEO of Children's Health Defense, pushed back at Cassidy's call for a delay. She said:

"Sen. Cassidy is a zealous advocate for Big Pharma's vaccines. That he is unhappy with the new ACIP members and its new agenda is unsurprising. Nor is the extraordinary pushback from Big Pharma and its allied professional associations … surprising.

"The bottom line is that strong public support catapulted Robert Kennedy to his current position as secretary. The public is demanding real science and transparency around vaccines. Kennedy must deliver on promises he made in this area, regardless of Sen. Cassidy's dismay."