Kennedy adds two new members to CDC's vaccine advisory panel

The two new additions are Drs. Adam Urato, an OB-GYN from Massachusetts who specializes in Maternal-Fetal Medicine, and Kimberly Biss, an OB-GYN from Florida who has published reports on COVID-19 vaccine safety for pregnant women.

Published: January 13, 2026 7:40pm

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Tuesday appointed two new members to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's vaccine advisory panel, who both specialize in Obstetrics and Gynecology. 

The additions mark the latest change to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, after Kennedy fired all the panel's 17 former members last year, accusing them of holding "persistent conflicts of interest" that made it "little more than a rubber stamp for any vaccine." He replaced them with 13 new members

The two new additions are Drs. Adam Urato, an OB-GYN from Massachusetts who specializes in Maternal-Fetal Medicine, and Kimberly Biss, an OB-GYN from Florida who has published reports on COVID-19 vaccine safety for pregnant women.

“ACIP serves as Americans’ watchdog for vaccine safety and transparency,” Kennedy said in a statement. “Dr. Urato and Dr. Biss bring the scientific credentials, clinical experience, and integrity this committee requires.”

HHS said the new appointments further Kennedy's commitment to transparency, gold standard science, and diverse expertise in guiding the nation’s immunization policies.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage. 

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