New member of CDC’s vaccine panel previously testified against Merck’s Gardasil HPV injection in court

06/14/2025 / By Ramon Tomey

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dismissed all 17 prior members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), citing conflicts of interest with pharmaceutical companies, and appointed eight new members.
Among the new members is biostatistician Martin Kulldorff, who previously testified against Merck’s Gardasil vaccine in court, raising questions about ACIP’s conflict-of-interest rules. Kennedy defended him as a “leading expert in vaccine safety.”
The new panel includes critics of mainstream vaccine policies, such as mRNA inventor Dr. Robert Malone and Dr. Retsef Levi, who has raised concerns about myocarditis risks linked to COVID-19 shots.
Advocates like Children’s Health Defense praised the move for transparency, while critics like Dr. Paul Offit warned it could undermine public trust in vaccines. Offit called some appointments problematic but deemed others “reasonable.”
The restructuring reflects long-standing tensions over pharmaceutical industry influence in public health, with the new ACIP pledging stricter evidence standards for vaccine recommendations.

One of the eight new members appointed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to the the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention‘s (CDC) vaccine panel has previously challenged vaccine maker Merck in court.

On Wednesday, June 11, Kennedy terminated all 17 prior members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). He accused the dismissed ACIP members of conflicts of interest tied to pharmaceutical companies. The secretary then named eight new members to join the ACIP’s meeting on June 25.

Among the new appointees is biostatistician Martin Kulldorff, who previously testified against Merck’s Gardasil vaccine in court. The Harvard University-trained epidemiologist served as a paid expert witness in lawsuits accusing the vaccine maker of downplaying risks of its human papillomavirus (HPV) injection. According to a court deposition from October, Kulldorff had billed plaintiffs $33,000 for his testimony

His involvement in litigation against a major vaccine manufacturer raises questions about potential recusals, as ACIP rules bar members from serving as paid consultants in cases involving vaccine makers. The CDC has not yet clarified whether Kulldorff will require a waiver to participate in Gardasil-related votes. Kennedy nevertheless defended his choice on X, calling Kulldorff a “leading expert in vaccine safety.”

Gardasil, approved in 2006, generates billions in annual revenue for Merck. But critics, including Kennedy himself who previously organized litigation against the vaccine, argue its risks are understudied. Kulldorff’s January 2025 report for plaintiffs cited flaws in Merck’s safety monitoring, though a federal judge dismissed the case months later in March.

The ACIP’s overhaul and the high-stakes battle over vaccine safety

The new ACIP lineup also includes high-profile skeptics of Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) policies – such as mRNA vaccine technology inventor Dr. Robert Malone and Dr. Retsef Levi, a researcher who called for suspending mRNA shots over myocarditis risk. The restructuring signals a dramatic shift in the government’s approach to vaccine oversight, prioritizing critics of mainstream immunization policies. (Related: Kennedy dismantles CDC vaccine panel, appoints NEW COMMITTEE to challenge the toxic one-size-fits-all CDC mandates.)

Mainstream outlets quickly labeled some appointees “anti-vaccine,” drawing ire from Levi. “The term ‘anti-vaxxer’ is gaslighting,” he told journalist Maryanne Demasi. Levi reiterated that each vaccine “must be evaluated on its own data.”

Kennedy’s overhaul arrives amid escalating scrutiny of vaccine safety, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic. His team pledged to review existing immunization schedules and demand “gold-standard” evidence for future recommendations.

Advocates like Children’s Health Defense CEO Mary Holland applaud the “fresh start.” However, critics like Dr. Paul Offit of the Food and Drug Administration‘s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee warned that the changes could erode public trust.

Offit, a vaccine developer and former ACIP member, took umbrage at the appointments of Malone and Levi. Nevertheless, he conceded that the other six appointments “seem reasonable.”

The clash reflects a decades-old debate over pharmaceutical influence in public health. As the new ACIP prepares for its June 25 meeting, the nation watches whether Kennedy’s panel will deliver on its promise of transparency.

Visit CDC.news for more similar stories.

Watch Dr. Martin Kulldorff discussing medical tyranny during the COVID-19 pandemic with the New American magazine’s Veronika Kyrylenko in this clip.

This video is from The New American channel on Brighteon.com.