Paul Offit, a pediatrician and co-inventor of the rotavirus vaccine who has been a vocal critic of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., was recently removed from the FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) 1234.
Offit's removal comes during a broader reshaping of federal vaccine policy and advisory committees under RFK Jr.'s leadership at HHS, affecting multiple panels central to US vaccine approvals and immunization strategies 134.
Offit had previously agreed to a two-year term extension at the FDA’s request, but his position was abruptly terminated with little public explanation; he and several others were informed their terms had expired, but it is unclear why some members were not renewed while others remain 1345.
Offit publicly stated that he was not given a reason for his removal and noted the lack of clarity about the process, despite some colleagues with similar term expirations retaining their seats 45.
This decision comes as lawmakers are set to question Kennedy’s vaccine policies in a forthcoming Senate Finance Committee hearing, raising concerns among experts and biopharma stakeholders about the potential erosion of traditional scientific advisory mechanisms 13.
Sources:
1. https://www.biopharminternational.com/view/biopharma-impacts-of-paul-offits-ousting-from-fda-vaccine-panel
2. https://ground.news/article/fda-removes-multiple-vaccine-advisers
3. https://www.pharmtech.com/view/pharma-implications-of-paul-offits-removal-from-vaccine-advisory-committee
4. https://www.biospace.com/fda/offit-out-at-fda-vaccine-advisory-committee-after-hhs-rebuff
5. https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/paul-offit-kicked-off-key-fda-vaccine-panel/