Kennedy last week announced he would “retire” the entire panel that guides U.S. vaccine policy. He also quietly removed Dr. Melinda Wharton — the veteran Centers for Disease Control and Prevention official who coordinated the committee's meetings.

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has named eight new vaccine policy advisers to replace the panel that he abruptly dismissed earlier this week.

The ousted members of a key panel of vaccine experts said on Monday that U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s purge of the panel weakens the government's vaccine program, may impact access to lifesaving vaccines,