Vicky Pebsworth’s ACIP Appointment: A Champion for Patient Safety and Informed Consent

How a Nurse’s Journey and NVIC Leadership Shape a New Era in Vaccine Policy

On June 11, 2025, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appointed Vicky Pebsworth, PhD, RN, OP, to the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), a move celebrated by advocates for patient rights and medical freedom. As a nurse, researcher, and board member of the National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC), Pebsworth brings a unique perspective to the restructured ACIP, which is tasked with shaping vaccine policy in an era of declining public trust. Her decades-long commitment to patient safety, informed consent, and rigorous vaccine scrutiny positions her as a pivotal figure in this historic overhaul, heralding a reckoning for the vaccine industry and a victory for those demanding transparency in public health.

“Vicky Pebsworth’s appointment is a bold step toward prioritizing patient voices and scientific integrity in vaccine policy.”
— Matthew McCoy DC, MPH

A Nurse’s Journey Rooted in Personal Experience

Vicky Pebsworth’s path to the ACIP is deeply personal. A registered nurse with over 35 years of experience, her career spans roles as an ICU nurse, healthcare administrator, health policy analyst, and research scientist, with a focus on pediatrics and patient safety. Her commitment to vaccine safety was sparked by her son’s serious, long-term health problems following seven vaccines administered at his 15-month well-baby visit in 1998. This experience drove her to advocate for greater transparency and accountability in vaccine policy, a mission that defines her work today.

Pebsworth holds a PhD from the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health and Nursing, complemented by a postdoctoral fellowship in health systems research. Her academic roles include serving as an associate professor at the University of Detroit, Mercy, and an affiliate faculty member at George Mason University, where she taught health services research methods. Her research, funded by prestigious institutions like the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, has appeared in journals such as the American Journal of Public Health and the Journal of the American Medical Association.

“Her son’s vaccine injury ignited a lifelong mission to protect patients through education and policy reform.”
— NVIC biography

Leadership at NVIC: Advocating for Informed Consent

Since 2006, Pebsworth has been a cornerstone of the National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC), serving as a board member and volunteer Director of Research and Patient Safety. Founded in 1982, NVIC is dedicated to preventing vaccine injuries and deaths through public education and advocating for informed consent protections in medical policies. The organization, which does not make vaccine recommendations, has been instrumental in shaping legislation like the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, which established a vaccine injury compensation program.

Pebsworth’s work at NVIC includes leading vaccine safety analytical projects and educational initiatives, such as the “Ask Nurse Vicky” video series, launched in 2011 to address consumer questions about vaccine risks and reactions. Her efforts have empowered families to make informed health choices, drawing on NVIC’s Vaccine Reaction Registry and public forums like the Cry for Vaccine Freedom Wall, which document experiences of vaccine-related injuries and harassment.

Her role as a consumer representative on the FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) since 2008, as well as her service on the National Vaccine Advisory Committee’s Vaccine Safety Working Group, underscores her expertise in navigating complex vaccine policy landscapes. At a 2020 FDA advisory meeting, Pebsworth spoke as a mother and NVIC leader, emphasizing the need for robust safety data, a stance she is expected to carry into her ACIP role.

“Through ‘Ask Nurse Vicky,’ Pebsworth has educated thousands, giving voice to parents’ concerns about vaccine safety.”
— NVIC program description

A Historic Appointment to ACIP

Pebsworth’s appointment to the ACIP, announced alongside seven other new members, marks a significant shift in the committee’s composition. As the first nurse on the current panel—though not the first in ACIP history, as nurse Lynn Bahta served from 2021 to 2023—her inclusion broadens the representation of healthcare professionals in vaccine policy decisions. Kennedy praised her as part of a team of “highly credentialed scientists” committed to “evidence-based medicine” and “definitive safety and efficacy data.”

The ACIP, which advises the CDC on vaccine schedules, safety, and clinical need, is under intense scrutiny following Kennedy’s dismissal of the previous 17 members, whom he accused of conflicts of interest. Pebsworth’s presence, with her NVIC leadership and personal stake in vaccine safety, signals a commitment to addressing public skepticism and prioritizing patient-centered policies. Her first meeting, set for June 25–27, 2025, in Atlanta, will tackle critical issues like HPV and COVID-19 vaccine recommendations, setting the stage for a new approach to public health guidance.

Championing Patient Rights and Transparency

Pebsworth’s supporters view her appointment as a triumph for the medical freedom movement, which seeks to restore trust in public health by demanding accountability from the vaccine industry. Her work with NVIC, including co-authoring a 2006 analysis of HPV vaccine adverse events reported to the CDC’s Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), demonstrates her dedication to rigorous safety scrutiny, even if such studies don’t prove causation. Advocates argue that her perspective as a nurse and mother uniquely equips her to bridge clinical expertise with patient concerns, ensuring that vaccine policies respect informed consent and individual choice.

Her faith as a life-professed Lay Dominican and board member of the National Association of Catholic Nurses (NACN-USA) further informs her advocacy, emphasizing ethical principles and the dignity of human life. Pebsworth is committed to healthcare policies that align with these values, particularly in protecting vulnerable populations and upholding religious freedoms.

“Pebsworth’s faith and expertise make her a powerful advocate for policies that honor patient autonomy and ethical care.”
— NACN-USA profile

A New Era for Vaccine Policy

As Pebsworth steps into her ACIP role, she carries the hopes of millions who seek a public health system that listens to patients and prioritizes safety over industry interests. Her history with NVIC, rooted in education and advocacy, positions her to challenge the status quo and demand gold-standard science in vaccine recommendations. This appointment is not just a personal milestone but a beacon for the medical freedom movement, signaling that the voices of parents, clinicians, and patients will no longer be sidelined.

The road ahead for the ACIP is challenging, with public health decisions that will shape vaccine access and trust for years to come. Pebsworth’s leadership, grounded in her nursing roots, research acumen, and unwavering commitment to informed consent, promises to steer the committee toward a future where transparency and patient rights reign supreme.