Kennedy Vaccine Advisers & US Shot Policy Doubts
- Atlanta-A newly appointed advisory panel at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is casting doubt on established vaccine practices, following changes initiated by Health and Human Services...
- The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), now composed of members selected by kennedy, convened to discuss the future of vaccine recommendations.
- amidst protests outside the CDC headquarters, the new ACIP recommended a new vaccine for newborns against a respiratory virus.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s influence is reshaping US vaccine policy, sparking anxieties at the CDC. His appointed advisory panel is questioning established practices, raising concerns about public trust and child health, as global funding for immunization efforts sees a massive cut. The ACIP is now reconsidering foundational vaccine recommendations! News Directory 3 reports on shifting recommendations, including scrutinizing the use of thimerosal and the childhood vaccine schedule. Vaccine advocates are fighting back in the face of this skepticism, worried about the damage that could be done. Discover what’s next.
RFK Jr.’s Vaccine Skepticism Sparks Concern at CDC
Atlanta-A newly appointed advisory panel at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is casting doubt on established vaccine practices, following changes initiated by Health and Human Services Secretary robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), now composed of members selected by kennedy, convened to discuss the future of vaccine recommendations. The shift comes as Kennedy also announced the withdrawal of $1.2 billion in U.S. funding for global immunization efforts,a move criticized as possibly deadly for children in impoverished nations.
amidst protests outside the CDC headquarters, the new ACIP recommended a new vaccine for newborns against a respiratory virus. The panel also suggested halting the use of influenza vaccines containing thimerosal,a mercury-based preservative,echoing Kennedy’s disputed claims about its link to autism. Only a small percentage of flu vaccines currently contain thimerosal.
Vaccine advocates are concerned that a review of the childhood vaccine schedule could erode public trust, as several committee members have openly opposed current vaccines. ACIP’s recommendations are legally binding for federally funded vaccines for lower-income children, and states typically follow its advice.
Martin Kulldorff, the new ACIP chair, stated the committee’s mandate is to use evidence-based medicine in vaccination recommendations. He announced a working group to investigate whether children are receiving too many vaccines and to reconsider the 34-year-old advice for a birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine, despite its success in reducing liver disease.
Kulldorff, who said he was fired from Harvard for declining a COVID-19 vaccine, noted the declining reputations of science and public health. Caroline Brown, a pediatrician, countered that “fearmongering and pseudoscience” are to blame, citing a recent measles case in North Carolina due to declining vaccination rates.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) will continue to publish its own vaccine recommendations, criticizing Kennedy’s panel for presenting a “false narrative” that current vaccine policies are flawed. Sean O’Leary, who chairs the AAP Committee on Infectious Diseases, said these policies have saved millions of lives and trillions of dollars.
While CDC scientists presented data supporting the safety and value of COVID-19 and RSV vaccines, some panel members expressed skepticism. Biochemist robert Malone and MIT professor Retsef Levi, who have advocated banning mRNA technology used in COVID-19 vaccines, were dismissive of the CDC’s analysis.
Critics of the new ACIP rallied outside the CDC,dressed as vaccine-preventable diseases. Casey Boudreau, a CDC retiree, expressed frustration with Kennedy’s questioning of vaccine safety. Tony Fiore, a former CDC liaison to ACIP, worried about reduced public confidence in vaccines.
HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon dismissed the rally as a “dog and pony show.”
Kennedy’s decision to withdraw funding from GAVI, an organization credited with saving 18 million lives, drew further criticism.Former CDC official Deblina Datta warned that this action would result in preventable deaths among children worldwide.
Kennedy claimed GAVI had not adequately promoted vaccine safety and had censored vaccine skeptics. He has also earned significant fees from a lawsuit against merck over HPV vaccine injuries.
The ACIP’s consideration of thimerosal, despite its removal from most childhood vaccines in 1999, also raised concerns. Lyn Redwood, an anti-thimerosal activist, presented arguments similar to those she made in 2001. A CDC summary of evidence concluding that thimerosal is not linked to autism was removed from the CDC website before the meeting.
elias Kass, a naturopathic physician, argued that re-examining the safety of thimerosal was an attempt to suggest something was previously missed or hidden.
The removal of thimerosal from all flu vaccines could also have drawbacks, as multi-dose vials containing the preservative are significantly cheaper than single-dose syringes, according to a CDC price list.