Meet the Nurse on CDC’s Vaccine Panel Amid Sweeping Changes - Dr. Vicky Pebsworth

Image sources: HHS, NACN-USA

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made headlines earlier this week by firing all 17 members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Shortly thereafter, he appointed eight new members, including, a nurse: Dr. Vicky Pebsworth, RN, PhD. These moves have sparked debate across the healthcare community, both for the unprecedented overhaul and for the backgrounds of the new appointees.

Who Is Vicky Pebsworth, RN, PhD?

Dr. Vicky Pebsworth is a registered nurse and health policy expert with more than three decades of experience. She holds a PhD from the University of Michigan and has held roles as an ICU nurse, healthcare administrator, and research scientist. Pebsworth is a board member of the National Association of Catholic Nurses (NACN-USA) and the National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC - formerly called “Dissatisfied Parents Together”), a group known for advocating vaccine safety and parental choice, and for raising concerns about vaccine risks. She has also served as a consumer representative on the FDA’s vaccine advisory committee, where she has spoken about her son’s health issues following routine childhood immunizations.

Pebsworth’s selection is a source of controversy based on her leadership role at NVIC. Critics argue that her affiliation signals a shift toward greater skepticism about vaccines within the ACIP. Abram Wagner, PhD, MPH, a University of Michigan vaccine researcher, called her appointment “incredibly problematic” due to NVIC’s history of spreading vaccine misinformation.

Her appointment is particularly notable because the ACIP has historically been composed primarily of physicians, making the inclusion of a nurse a positive step for broader healthcare representation. However, Dr. Pebsworth is not the first nurse to serve on the committee; at least one previous ACIP roster, serving from August 2021 to September 2023, included a nurse among its members, Lynn Bahta, RN, MPH, CPH - an Immunization Program Clinical Consultant based out of the Minnesota Department of Health. This demonstrates an ongoing, though limited, recognition of the value nurses bring to high-level public health decision-making.

Controversy Over the Termination of All 17 ACIP Members

The mass dismissal of the previous ACIP members by Secretary Kennedy has drawn criticism from leading medical organizations and public health experts. The American Medical Association and others have called for a Senate investigation, warning that the abrupt change could undermine trust in vaccine policy and disrupt the committee’s work. Kennedy defended the move, saying it was necessary to restore public confidence and ensure the panel is free from conflicts of interest.

What’s Next for ACIP?

The newly appointed ACIP members are set to meet for the first time on June 25. With only eight members named so far—short of the quorum needed for official votes—the committee’s immediate future remains uncertain. The healthcare community will be watching closely to see how the panel’s new composition influences vaccine policy in the months ahead.

 

🤔 Nurses, what do you think about this appointment? Share your thoughts in the discussion forum below.