A joint initiative between the American Medical Association and the Vaccine Integrity Project at the University of Minnesota will independently review vaccine safety and effectiveness, with the goal of providing evidence-based guidance for doctors and families.

The AMA and the Vaccine Integrity Project will assess the effectiveness and safety of vaccines for influenza, COVID-19, and RSV for the upcoming fall, positioning the effort as a response to perceived government withdrawal from this duty.

Historically, the CDC’s vaccine recommendations have relied on ACIP, but 2025 changes under Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reshaped the panel and altered vaccine scheduling.

The new initiative will operate separately from the CDC’s vaccine-recommendation framework, offering a deliberative, data-driven assessment of vaccine risks and benefits for different populations.

The piece also carries a call for reader support for Scientific American and underscores the publication’s stance on safeguarding science journalism during what it calls a critical period for science policy.

ACIP has faced controversy, with recent meetings marked by misinformation and discussions about changing universal vaccination recommendations, including hesitancy around birth-time vaccines and thimerosal-containing flu vaccines.

The move is framed against claims that federal health agencies and ACIP have abdicated responsibilities, contributing to a perceived collapse of the traditional vaccine-guidance system.

The development comes amid political shifts and critiques of past governance, including criticism of Trump-era influence and the December 2025 CDC decision to reduce the routine childhood vaccine schedule from 17 to 11 diseases.

The collaboration is set within broader debates about vaccine policy, public health, and trust in science, emphasizing an evidence-based approach that avoids issuing CDC-style recommendations.

Critics describe HHS actions under Kennedy as limiting ACIP input and public participation, potentially delaying vaccine reviews and new vaccine development.

AMA stresses the need for a regular, evidence-based review process to guide vaccine recommendations, restore public trust, and address questions such as potential additional RSV vaccine doses through ongoing collaboration and monthly meetings.

The Vaccine Integrity Project’s review of over 16,000 studies found strong safety profiles for flu, COVID-19, and RSV vaccines, reinforcing their role in public health and supporting continued advocacy and policy guidance.