US Vaccine Policy Undergoes Radical Shift as New Advisory Panel Signals Major Overhaul
US Vaccine Policy Undergoes Radical Shift as New Advisory Panel Signals Major Overhaul
A seismic shift is underway in US vaccine policy following the first meeting of a newly appointed federal panel, signaling potential changes to long-standing immunization recommendations. This comes after US Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., controversially dismissed the previous members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) earlier this month.
The new ACIP panel, whose members were appointed just two weeks ago, includes several individuals openly critical of existing vaccine practices, with chairman Dr. Robert Malone famously embracing the term “anti-vaxxer.” This group is now tasked with advising the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the nation’s vaccine policy, including crucial decisions on childhood immunization schedules.
During their inaugural meeting, members hinted at significant revisions to current childhood vaccine guidelines. The implications are far-reaching, as ACIP’s determinations directly influence insurance coverage (including Medicaid) and state-level school immunization mandates. The American Academy of Pediatrics, in an unprecedented move, boycotted the meeting, with its president, Dr. Sue Kressly, denouncing the process as “no longer credible” and affirming the academy’s intent to publish its own independent vaccination schedule.
Key votes are anticipated soon on proposals concerning flu vaccines, particularly the use of thimerosal, a mercury-containing preservative. While the vast majority of scientific studies have found no link between thimerosal and autism, and the compound has been largely removed from childhood vaccines since 2001, its inclusion remains a contentious issue for some. The committee is also poised to vote on a second lab-made antibody to protect newborns from Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).
Further intensifying the controversy, Kennedy recently hired Lyn Redwood, former president of Children’s Health Defense—an anti-vaccine group he founded—as an adviser in the CDC’s vaccine safety office. Redwood is expected to address the committee prior to the thimerosal vote.
In related news, Kennedy announced this week that the US will cease funding Gavi, the global vaccine agency, accusing it of “ignoring the science” on vaccine safety. This decision cuts off a previously pledged $1.2 billion intended for childhood immunizations in low-income countries. Gavi has strongly refuted Kennedy’s claims, asserting that its decisions are based on rigorous, independent expert review aligned with WHO recommendations. While other nations, notably Britain, have increased their pledges, the total funding for Gavi still falls short of its $9 billion goal for the next four years.
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