Vaccine Recommendation Panel Appointed by RFK Jr. Discards Measles-Chickenpox Combination Vaccine for Children Under 4 Years Old
Under the leadership of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently undergone a series of high-profile departures. One of the most notable departures is that of Susan Monarez, the CDC's director, who was reportedly fired for refusing to support Kennedy's vaccine agenda.
Kennedy has also appointed new members to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), including the new chairman Dr. Martin Kulldorff. This new ACIP has been making waves with its recent recommendations on vaccine changes.
One of the most significant changes proposed by the new ACIP is the removal of the MMRV vaccine for the first dose of the vaccination schedule for children. The MMRV vaccine, which provides protection against measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella, has been associated with a slightly increased risk of febrile seizure in children under the age of four as compared to the MMR plus varicella vaccine.
In a 8 to 3 vote, the new ACIP has recommended against the use of the combined measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (chickenpox) vaccine in children under four. Instead, the new ACIP is now recommending that children should only receive two separate vaccines covering these four diseases.
The new ACIP has also recommended that the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program should stick to its existing coverage of the MMRV vaccine. However, the ACIP voted 'No' on whether the VFC program should change its coverage in alignment with the new recommendation, which could affect Medicaid coverage of these vaccines, as well as coverage offered through the VFC program.
It is worth noting that the new ACIP members have previously been criticised for misrepresenting science on vaccine safety or financially benefiting from attacking vaccines. This has raised concerns about the impartiality of the committee's recommendations.
In addition to the changes to the childhood vaccine schedule, the ACIP is also expected to weigh in on the covid-19 vaccines tomorrow. The delay in the vote on universal hepatitis B vaccination starting at birth until tomorrow further adds to the anticipation surrounding the ACIP's decisions.
Despite the controversy surrounding Kennedy's leadership and the new ACIP's recommendations, most parents take the CDC's advice and don't use the MMRV vaccine for the first dose, with about 85% of parents choosing the MMR and a separate varicella vaccine as recommended for the first dose.
Monarez testified at a Senate hearing, alleging that Kennedy had pressured her to rubber-stamp recommendations from ACIP. This has further fueled concerns about the integrity of the CDC's vaccine recommendations under Kennedy's leadership.
In light of the recent changes and controversies surrounding the CDC and the ACIP, it is important for the public to stay informed and make informed decisions about their own and their children's health.
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