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."

NEW YORK (AP) — All 17 experts recently dismissed from a government vaccine advisory panel published an essay Monday decrying “destabilizing decisions” made by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that could lead to more preventable disease spread.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced last week that he had removed every member of an independent panel key to vaccine policy and access in America. After removing the 17 members of the panel, Kennedy announced eight new names, many of whom have been skeptical of vaccines.