Havers’ departure comes just days after U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. removed all members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and replaced them with new appointees. It makes recommendations on use of vaccines in the U.S.

The 17 members of the CDC's vaccine advisory committee, who were ousted last week, argued their abrupt dismissal has "left the U.S. vaccine program critically weakened."