Atlanta, GA & Los Angeles, CA – As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) vaccine advisory committee gathers today for a pivotal meeting on COVID boosters, childhood immunizations, and longstanding protocols, health experts warn of potential seismic shifts under a revamped roster handpicked by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. In a separate media firestorm, ABC has indefinitely pulled “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” off the air following backlash over the host’s pointed comments on the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, drawing cheers from President Donald Trump and cries of censorship from Democrats.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) session, kicking off Thursday in Atlanta, places three high-stakes items on the docket: recommendations for fall COVID-19 vaccines, Hepatitis B shots for newborns, and the MMRV vaccine covering measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox. With all 12 members newly appointed by the Trump administration—many vocal vaccine skeptics—the panel’s deliberations could upend access to boosters for high-risk groups and challenge decades-old childhood schedules, potentially reshaping public health policy nationwide.
Former CDC Director Susan Monarez, ousted earlier this year for resisting what she called “rubber-stamping” of unproven changes, recounted tense clashes with Kennedy ahead of the meeting. In a Fox News interview, Monarez described an “exchange” where she insisted any alterations to the vaccine schedule must be grounded in evidence—a stance that reportedly fueled her dismissal. Kennedy’s appointees, including several without deep medical backgrounds, have already signaled openness to reviewing Hepatitis B mandates for infants and MMRV efficacy, moves critics fear could erode herd immunity amid resurgent measles outbreaks. A Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson countered that decisions would be “based on the latest available science,” vetted by acting CDC Director Jim O’Neill, a Silicon Valley veteran with no scientific training.
Public health advocates are on high alert. “This isn’t just about boosters—it’s about whether we protect our kids from preventable diseases,” said Dr. Bill Cassidy, a Republican senator and vaccine proponent, who flatly rejected proposed tweaks during congressional testimony. The committee’s votes carry outsized weight, influencing insurance coverage, school mandates, and federal stockpiles. With COVID cases ticking up in several states, any rollback on boosters could leave millions vulnerable this flu season.
Meanwhile, across the country, late-night TV took a dramatic hit as ABC bowed to regulatory pressure, announcing Wednesday that “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” would be preempted indefinitely. The suspension stems from Kimmel’s Monday monologue, where he lambasted MAGA efforts to distance the suspect in Kirk’s killing from conservative circles, accusing them of “doing anything to score political points.” Kirk, 31, was fatally shot last week in Phoenix by a gunman authorities have charged with murder; the suspect’s ties to far-right groups remain under scrutiny.
The backlash snowballed after Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr, appearing on Fox News, blasted the remarks as “news distortion” and urged broadcasters to preempt Kimmel’s show to avoid fines or license revocations. Nexstar Media Group, which operates dozens of ABC affiliates, quickly followed suit, halting airings on its stations. Trump amplified the uproar on social media, congratulating ABC and calling for NBC to axe Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers next. An ABC spokesperson confirmed the indefinite pause but offered no timeline for return, leaving Kimmel’s future—and the show’s 13-year run—in limbo.
Democrats decried the move as a chilling assault on free speech, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer labeling it “government overreach at its worst.” Carr hailed it as an “important turning point” in an interview with Sean Hannity, hinting at broader scrutiny of late-night programming. Kimmel, who won an Emmy for hosting earlier this month, has not commented publicly, but allies say the comedian views it as retaliation for his consistent jabs at Trump.
These twin stories— one threatening public health guardrails, the other testing media boundaries—highlight the administration’s aggressive push on science and speech. As the ACIP deliberates and Kimmel’s desk gathers dust, America braces for ripple effects that could redefine trust in experts and entertainers alike.
Sources: NPR, NBC News, The New York Times.