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HHS Reinstates Task Force for Safer Childhood Vaccines
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Key Takeaways
- The Task Force on Safer Childhood Vaccines aims to enhance vaccine safety and innovation, focusing on reducing adverse reactions and improving reporting.
- Secretary Robert F. Kennedy emphasizes improving vaccine science, despite accusations of being anti-vax, and denies claims linking vaccines to autism.
The federally created panel was previously disbanded in 1998.
HHS reinstated the Task Force on Safer Childhood Vaccines.
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HHS made yet another vaccine-related decision.
The agency announced the reinstatement of the Task Force on Safer Childhood Vaccines.1 The federal panel was initially created as part of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act in 1986, but was disbanded in 1998. Members of the previous task force included leadership from NIH, FDA, and the CDC. According to the HHS’ announcement, the new task force will be made up of similar members, with the NIH director serving as chairman.
Why did HHS reinstate the Task Force on Safer Childhood Vaccines?
In a press release, NIH director Jay Bhattacharya said, “By reinstating this Task Force, we are reaffirming our commitment to rigorous science, continuous improvement, and the trust of American families. NIH is proud to lead this effort to advance vaccine safety and support innovation that protects children without compromise."
According to HHS, the new task force will work with the Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines and will present recommendations on the following items:
- The development of childhood vaccines that result in fewer and less serious adverse reactions.
- Improvements in adverse reaction reporting.
- Supporting research to make vaccines safer.
The announcement ends by providing a timeline for the commission’s delivery of a formal report to congress, which is set to happen within two years and repeated every two years afterwards.
This is the latest announcement from HHS in regard to vaccines, which have become a surprisingly hot button issue in recent years. While Secretary Robert F. Kennedy has been accused of being anti-vax, he denies those claims. Instead, he says that he’s merely interested in improving the science on vaccine safety and providing people with better information to make informed choices about vaccinations. For example, he has repeated claims that vaccines are connected to autism as recently as 2023.2
The connection between vaccines and autism has long been debunked, although there are still prominent activist groups that believe there is a connection to this day. HHS’ announcement about the reinstatement of the advisory commission does not mention autism, although it does mention reducing the risk of serious adverse reactions.
According to the Yale School of Health,3 serious adverse reactions to vaccines are rare in children, although they do happen. For example, out of every 10,000 children who get the MMR vaccine, about 3 will experience fever-related seizures, with less than 0.1% experiencing allergic reactions. FDA also regularly monitors vaccine injuries and parents who believe their children suffered serious adverse effects can contact the National Vaccine Compensation Program.
HHS recently made another vaccine decision when it announced it would be cancelling nearly $500 million in mRNA vaccine research and development programs.
At the time of the announcement, Secretary Kennedy said, “We reviewed the science, listened to the experts, and acted. BARDA is terminating 22 mRNA vaccine development investments because the data show these vaccines fail to protect effectively against upper respiratory infections like COVID and flu. We’re shifting that funding toward safer, broader vaccine platforms that remain effective even as viruses mutate.”
The statement continued, “Let me be absolutely clear: HHS supports safe, effective vaccines for every American who wants them. That’s why we’re moving beyond the limitations of mRNA and investing in better solutions.”
Health experts have pushed back against Kennedy’s claims about mRNA vaccines, however. One expert told CNN Health that they considered the decision one of the worst public health decisions in decades. Another described the decision as abandoning a kitchen remodel after the walls have already been torn down.
Sources
- HHS Revives Task Force on Safer Childhood Vaccines. HHS. August 14, 2025. https://www.hhs.gov/press-room/hhs-reinstates-task-force-on-safer-childhood-vaccines.html
- Fact-checking RFK Jr's views on health policy. BBC. November 15, 2024. Accessed August 14, 2025. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0mzk2y41zvo
- Childhood Vaccinations. Yale School of Public Health. https://ysph.yale.edu/public-health-research-and-practice/information-sheets/childhood-vaccinations/#1-are-childhood-vaccines-safer-than-the-diseases-themselves?
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