ATLANTA (AP) – Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s new vaccine advisory board met Thursday and began considering changes to Shot’s guidance for Covid-19, hepatitis B and Chicken Pox.
Morning discussion focuses on a combination vaccine called MMRV that protects against measles, mumps, rubella and chicken pox.
The advisors planned to vote later Thursday on a proposal recommending that shots not be given to children under the age of four due to rare cases of enthusiastic seizures related to the first dose given to children aged 1 to 2 years old.
On Thursday, committee member Dr. Cody Meissner said such a seizure could be a “very scary experience” for families, but health professionals agree that it is not related to brain function or school issues.
When the panel last addressed this issue in 2009, when they said either a combination shot or a separate MMR and Varicella shot Accepted for the first dosehowever, that individual dose was generally preferred. Today, according to information presented at the meeting, 85% of children receive an individual dose in the first round.
Some doctors and public health experts say they are not aware of new safety data explaining a revisiting of these vaccination recommendations. In fact, many of the studies discussed Thursday were more than a decade old.
Dr. Richard Haupt, vice president of Merck, has produced the MMRV vaccine procad, which was evaluated through clinical trials and post-approval studies, and said a slight increase in fever attacks after the first dose led to current CDC recommendations. The combined vaccine will improve completion and on-time vaccinations as the country sees a troubling decline in vaccination coverage, he said.
“Given these trends, policy decisions that undermine the clarity or consistency of vaccination guidance could further reduce public confidence,” he told the committee.
Dr. Mysheika Roberts, Health Director for Columbus, Ohio, said one of the benefits of the combination vaccine is that it limits the number of shots a child gets.
However, she also acknowledged concerns about the enthusiastic attacks among children under the age of four, saying, “Maybe the guidance needs to be adjusted a little about it.”
The panel, the Advisory Committee on Vaccination Practices, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention About how to use an already approved vaccine. CDC directors have mostly accepted these recommendations. These recommendations provide extensive listening to your doctor and guide you through your vaccination program.
Kennedy was a leading anti-vaccine activist before becoming the country’s top health official; Fired an entire panel of 17 people The beginning of this year and I’ve replaced it Groups containing several anti-vaccine voices. Monday, HHS Additional announcement Of the five more, some of them looked at skeptics of Covid-19 vaccinations or pandemic precautions.
In his opening remarks, committee chair Martin Kruldorf defended the group from critics who said they were leaning towards anti-vaccine views.
“This ACIP committee member is committed to reassuring the public and restoring public confidence by removing as much unnecessary risks and harm as possible. That’s the pro-vaccine agenda,” Kulldorff said.
He later added:
On Thursday afternoon, the panel will discuss vaccines against liver disease hepatitis B and will vote for recommendations for both vaccines.
Information about Meeting agenda The committee suggests that it may be poised to roll back, at least in part. This is a long-standing recommendation that virtually all US children will receive the early hepatitis B vaccine right after birth.
The American Academy of Pediatrics and many public health officials support practices that were decades ago.
Roberts said the rate of liver disease among children has dropped significantly since it was introduced.
“We don’t understand the reason why we’re stopping that vaccine delivery and the rationale for guidance for babies when we see such a big advancement in the area,” said Roberts, who is scheduled to join the vaccine panel but was fired by Kennedy. “If it’s not broken, why change it?”
A group of doctors and public health organizations are wary of Kennedy and his new panel. Concerns that it will intensify in May during Kennedy He announced he had deleted it Covid-19 shots from the CDC recommendations for healthy children and pregnant women. The move has been heavily criticized by groups of doctors and public health organizations. He filed a lawsuit By American Pediatrics and Other Group Academy.
The committee is expected to develop recommendations for the Covid-19 vaccine on Friday.
The AAP and other groups have issued their own vaccination recommendations. This is against the recommendations made by federal officials this year.
The past few weeks, Some states They announced policies to help residents maintain access to vaccines. In some cases, sign an order that ensures COVID-19 vaccinations at the pharmacy without a separate prescription. Wisconsin this week joined the list of more than a dozen to take action when Gov. Tony Evers signed an executive order to follow the guidance of the national health officer.
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Unger reported from Louisville, Kentucky.
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