The advisory panel backed by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. voted against the MMRV combo vaccine and recommended that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) adopt new restrictions on the combination shot.
The MMRV combo vaccine protects against various diseases, including chickenpox, measles, mumps, and rubella. RFK Jr.'s panel advised that the vaccine should not be given before kids are four years old. They also noted that kids in the lower age group should be given separate vaccines.
Changes to MMRV Vaccine Policies
The panel, known as the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, put off an expected vote on hepatitis B shots that are given to infants on the same day they are born. It is also expected to decide whether or not it would recommend that some babies wait a month for similar shots.
The committee is the one responsible for making recommendations to the CDC director on how already-approved vaccines should be used. Almost always, CDC directors accept those recommendations, which are widely heeded by doctors and guide vaccination programs throughout the country, according to CNBC.
However, public health experts now worry that the latest votes will raise unwarranted concerns among parents. Kennedy, who is a longtime vaccine skeptic, has previously made or proposed several changes to the nation's vaccine system.
These efforts include the replacement of the entire 17-member panel earlier this year, where he replaced them with a group of individuals that includes several anti-vaccine viewers. Experts also worry that the panel's actions could narrow access to crucial shots.
RFK Jr. is moving quickly with efforts to push for changes to vaccine policies, including restricting eligibility to receive COVID-19 vaccines. He also ousted the U.S.'s top public health official and amplified federal support for state vaccine exemptions, Reuters reported.
RFK Jr.'s Advisory Panel
The panel's vote against the MMRV vaccine was made based on studies that showed a higher risk of seizures in children under four years with those who were given separate measles-mumps-rubella and varicella injections.
Many doctors argue that the MMRV change and proposed recommendations for the hepatitis B vaccine are not supported by scientific evidence. They add that these will only hamper access and potentially limit insurance coverage.
Dr. Sean O'Leary of the American Academy of Pediatrics said that the primary goal of the panel's meeting is to sow distrust and instill fear among parents and families. He hopes that their efforts do not gain much traction, as per Politico.
