Recently fired members of a committee that advises the federal government on immunization safety lashed out at Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., saying that their terminations will limit access to vaccines and put American lives at risk.

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."

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dismissed all members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which recommends which shots insurance should cover for specific groups.