In brief
In Atlanta, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s vaccine advisory committee will convene to review vaccinations for COVID-19, hepatitis B, and chickenpox. Discussion may include potential changes to existing vaccination protocols, including rolling back the long-standing recommendation for new infants to receive a hepatitis B vaccine. Public health officials express concerns that such changes could negatively affect childhood vaccination rates.
ATLANTA (AP) — Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s new vaccine advisory committee meets Thursday to begin a two-day session focused on shots against COVID-19, hepatitis B, and chickenpox.
Votes are expected Thursday afternoon on hepatitis B and on a combined shot against measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox. However, Department of Health and Human Services officials have not specified the exact proposals that will be discussed.
The meeting agenda suggests the committee may consider partially rolling back a recommendation that all U.S. children receive an initial dose of hepatitis B vaccine shortly after birth. The American Academy of Pediatrics and many public health officials have historically supported this practice, citing significant decreases in liver disease among children due to its implementation.
Dr. Mysheika Roberts, health department director in Columbus, Ohio, voiced concerns over the proposed changes. “I don’t understand the rationale for stopping that vaccine and the guidance to babies when we’ve seen such great progress in that area,” she stated. “If it’s not broken, why change it?” Roberts was supposed to join the vaccine panel but was dismissed by Kennedy.
The committee’s chair, Martin Kulldorff, has also raised the possibility of recommending that children under the age of 4 not receive the MMRV combination shot, citing rare instances of feverish seizures linked to the first dose given to children between ages 1 and 2.
Some health experts are alarmed, stating they are not aware of any new safety data justifying the reevaluation of existing recommendations and fearing it could sow doubt among parents regarding vaccines.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices issues recommendations to the CDC director regarding vaccine use. The panel’s recommendations have greatly influenced vaccination protocols across the country. Following Kennedy’s appointment, he replaced the previous 17-member panel with a group that includes several skeptics of vaccines.
As states begin to implement policies to ensure access to vaccines and maintain vaccination rates, the committee is set to provide recommendations on COVID-19 vaccinations by Friday.
