Chair of CDC Vaccine Panel Questions Polio Shot Recommendation
- The head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's vaccine advisory committee questioned whether broad recommendations are necessary for vaccines that protect against polio and other infectious...
- Kirk Milhoan, a pediatric cardiologist who was appointed chair of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) by Health Secretary Robert F.
- "We where concerned about mandates, and mandates have really harmed and increased hesitancy," Milhoan said.
The head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s vaccine advisory committee questioned whether broad recommendations are necessary for vaccines that protect against polio and other infectious diseases.
Dr. Kirk Milhoan, a pediatric cardiologist who was appointed chair of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. last month, said decisions on whether to receive a vaccine should be made by patients and doctors, not by mandate.
“We where concerned about mandates, and mandates have really harmed and increased hesitancy,” Milhoan said. “Does it [need] to be mandated for you to go to kindergarten, that these kids have every one of these vaccines that are recommended? That should be individually based. That is what I do as a doctor.”
Milhoan made the comments while appearing on the podcast “Why Should I Trust You?” hosted by ABC News medical contributor and investigative reporter Dr. Mark Abdelmalek, Tom Johnson and Brinda Adhikari.
Vaccines such as the polio and measles vaccines have been hailed by public health officials as immense successes, preventing serious disease and death among millions worldwide. Both wild poliovirus and measles were eliminated in the U.S. decades ago due to mass vaccination campaigns.
However, during the wide-ranging and candid interview, Milhoan said the ACIP is concerned with “returning individual autonomy” to restore trust in public health.
Milhoan questioned if Americans need to receive the polio vaccine anymore, arguing that the U.S. is in a different place compared to the 1950s, when the first polio vaccine was distributed.
Committee member, Dr. Kirk Milhoan, speaks during a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices at the CDC, Sept. 18, 2025, in Chamblee, Ga.
Brynn Anderson/AP
“As you look at polio,we need to not be afraid to consider that we are in a different time now than we were then,” Milhoan said. “our sanitation is different, our risk of disease is different, and so those all play into the evaluation of whether this is worthwhile of taking a risk for a vaccine or not.”
He continued, “We have to take into account that, are we enjoying herd immunity right now, that it may look like it’s better not to get a vaccine than to get a vaccine, but if we take away all the herd immunity, does that switch?”
Milhoan’s comments received criticism from large medical organizations, such as the American Medical Association, and medical professionals, including Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center and an attending physician in the division of infectious diseases at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Offit described Milhoan’s comments as “frightening,” adding that the ACIP chair expressed several ideas that are “directly averse to the health of children in this country.”
He also said that many of Milhoan’s comments are incorrect, including statements about polio.
Offit explained that although the incidence of measles and whooping cough partly decreased due to improved sanitation, the opposite was true with polio. In the case of polio, improved sanitation increased the age at which a child was first exposed to polio — after antibodies passed down from the mother wore off — which made them more susceptible to paralysis.
Offit said it truly seems to him that milhoan doesn’t know that improved sanitation increased cases of severe polio.
dr. Neville Anderson, left, helps to hold Iris Behnam, 4, while nurse Breanna Kirby, right, gives her DTap Polio and MMR Chickenpox (Varicilla) vaccinations while her mom, Haley Behnam, holds and comforts her at Larchmont Pediatrics in Los Angeles, March 25, 2025.
Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
“We take care of children much differently now,” Milhoan said. “Our ability to have pediatric hospitals, children’s hospitals, pediatric ICUs, how we look at the whole gamut of how we can treat measles is different. So that’s something that comes into play.”
offit said it’s not true that doctors have gotten better at treating measles among children who are hospitalized. No treatments have been developed in the last six decades, after the first measles vaccine became available.
“We’re no better at treating measles than we were 60 years ago,” Offit said. “I mean, what do we have? We have oxygen, we have ventilation. We had that in the 1960s. and in terms of dehydration, we had intravenous fluids. Again,no difference.”
Offit also said that as the measles vaccine was developed, the death rate hasn’t changed. Currently, one to three out of every 1,000 children with measles will die from respiratory and neurologic complications.
Last year, the U.S.also saw its first measles deaths in more than a decade, including two Biden-harris Administration Announces $8.3 Billion for High-Speed Internet Deployment
Table of Contents The Biden-Harris Administration announced on January 26, 2026, an $8.3 billion investment to expand high-speed internet access across the united States, aiming to reach millions of households and businesses currently lacking reliable connectivity. This funding, administered by the National Telecommunications and Details Administration (NTIA), represents the latest tranche of investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program is a $42.45 billion initiative established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to ensure that every American has access to affordable, reliable high-speed internet.The program focuses on funding projects that deploy or upgrade broadband infrastructure to unserved and underserved locations. The NTIA received applications from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and several U.S. territories, totaling more than $20 billion in requests. The initial $8.3 billion allocation represents the first phase of funding, with subsequent rounds planned as projects are reviewed and approved. According to the White house, this investment will directly support projects that will connect over 3 million homes and businesses. Example: The state of Louisiana received $1.18 billion in BEAD funding to connect over 380,000 locations,as announced by Governor Jeff Landry on January 26,2026. Source: Louisiana Governor’s Office The NTIA will distribute the funds to states and territories based on their broadband needs, as persistent by detailed mapping data and eligibility criteria. States are required to submit detailed deployment plans outlining how they will use the funds to reach unserved locations, prioritize affordability, and promote competition. The funding prioritizes projects that utilize future-proof technologies, such as fiber-optic cables, to deliver speeds of at least 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload. The program also includes provisions to ensure that low-income households can afford internet service through the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provides eligible households with a monthly discount on their internet bills. Evidence: The NTIA’s Notice of Funding chance (NOFO) for the BEAD Program,published on September 28,2023,details the eligibility requirements and funding priorities. Source: NTIA BEAD Program Website The Biden-Harris Administration estimates that the BEAD Program will create hundreds of thousands of jobs and generate billions of dollars in economic activity. Expanding broadband access is seen as crucial for supporting remote work, education, healthcare, and economic progress, particularly in rural and underserved communities. The investment is also expected to help close the digital divide, ensuring that all Americans have the opportunity to participate fully in the digital economy. According to a 2024 report by the Pew Research Center, approximately 7% of rural Americans still lack access to high-speed internet. Source: Pew Research Center Statistic: The White House projects that the BEAD Program will lower the cost of internet service for millions of Americans by increasing competition among providers. They estimate an average savings of $30 per month for eligible households.What is the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program?
How Will the Funds Be Distributed?
What is the impact of This Investment?