Vaccine Panel’s Chaotic Week Sparks Confusion Over Childhood Shots
This week, the federal committee that advises the CDC on vaccines had one of its most chaotic meetings in memory. What was supposed to be a routine discussion of childhood vaccines instead turned into a back-and-forth of mixed votes, delayed decisions, and tense exchanges that left many observers unsettled.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, known as ACIP, was tasked with reviewing key vaccines, including the hepatitis B shot for newborns and the combination vaccine that protects against measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox — often called the MMRV vaccine. But instead of clear decisions, the panel delivered confusion.
On Thursday, the committee had voted to allow a federal program that provides vaccines for children to cover the MMRV shot. By Friday morning, that very same vote was reversed. Members said they had misunderstood the wording and realized they had essentially voted the opposite of what they intended. This kind of contradiction was unprecedented for the group.
Also Read:- A Big Bold Beautiful Journey Stumbles in Box Office Debut
- AFL’s Choices Leave Grassroots Footy Behind
The hepatitis B vaccine, which has been recommended for all newborns since 1991, was also on the agenda. Normally, babies receive their first dose within 24 hours of birth, a practice credited with reducing infant hepatitis B infections in the U.S. from nearly 20,000 a year to fewer than 20 today. But the panel was considering whether to delay that first dose for babies born to mothers who are not known to be infected. After a heated discussion, members admitted they were not ready to decide. The vote was postponed indefinitely, leaving the question unsettled.
Behind the scenes, the meeting was marred by tension. A hot microphone even caught one member insulting another, and at times, voices were raised. Some panelists complained about being muted during debate, accusing the chair of stifling discussion. Others admitted openly that they were confused by what exactly they were voting on.
Part of the disarray may stem from how the committee was assembled. Over the summer, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dismissed the prior members and rushed in new appointees, many of them newcomers to the process. Some have expressed skepticism about routine vaccines, echoing Kennedy’s long-held view that American children receive too many shots. That background has raised concerns among public health experts that decisions could be guided more by politics and doubt than by science.
Medical organizations have already criticized the process, saying the panel skipped the usual in-depth analysis of benefits, risks, and costs that ACIP typically conducts. Experts pointed out that decades of data show both the MMRV and hepatitis B vaccines to be safe and effective, warning that delays or restrictions could put children at unnecessary risk.
The panel is scheduled to weigh in soon on Covid-19 vaccines as well, a decision that is expected to be equally controversial. For now, though, the committee’s rocky start has cast doubt on its ability to guide one of the most important responsibilities in public health: ensuring that vaccines remain accessible, effective, and trusted.
Read More:
0 Comments