Dr. Robert Malone, vice chair of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and ally of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., resigned from the panel after a federal judge ruled that the newly appointed members lacked required expertise.23
The judge blocked ACIP's actions, including changes to the pediatric vaccine schedule like delaying the hepatitis B birth dose, and restored the original schedule.125
Malone cited reasons including 'uncompensated labor' and 'incredible hate,' expressed frustration on X by calling for the judge's impeachment, and initially claimed ACIP was disbanded before retracting.234
ACIP was reformed by Kennedy last year after dismissing the prior panel for alleged pharmaceutical influence; HHS has not confirmed an appeal of the ruling.12
Sources:
1. https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/outspoken-acip-member-steps-down-amid-vaccine-panel-controversy-legal-bulwark
2. https://www.statnews.com/2026/03/24/federal-vaccine-adviser-departs-acip/
3. https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/acip-vice-chair-resigns-after-judge-questions-advisers-qualifications/
4. https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/acip-members-miscommunication-vaccine-panels-future-adds-confusion-after-earlier-upset-court
5. https://www.bioworld.com/articles/729544-judges-order-shuts-down-new-vaccine-schedule-acip-itself