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Recommendations made by Kennedy's advisory group for stricter regulations on MMRV immunizations
Recommendations made by Kennedy's advisory group for stricter regulations on MMRV immunizations

Recommendations propose stricter controls on MMRV immunizations, as suggested by Kennedy's advisory group

ACIP Ponders Delaying Hepatitis B Vaccine for Newborns and New Restrictions on MMRV Vaccine

In a recent meeting, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) discussed potential changes to the use of already-approved vaccines, including the hepatitis B vaccine and the MMRV vaccine.

The ACIP, which makes recommendations to the CDC director on how vaccines should be used, has been considering whether to recommend that some babies can wait a month for their hepatitis B shots. This decision follows the committee's 2005 recommendation that a dose of the hepatitis B vaccine be given to all medically stable infants who weigh at least 4.4 pounds (2 kilograms) within 24 hours of birth. Since then, hepatitis B cases among infants have decreased significantly, from 5,494 cases per year in 2005 to 2,214 cases in 2023.

However, committee member Dr. Evelyn Griffin questioned the necessity of the first-day-of-life hepatitis B vaccine, suggesting it might be addressing an adult problem. Dr. Flor Munoz-Rivas, of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, also expressed reservations about addressing the hepatitis B vaccine recommendation. Some speakers during the public comment portion of the meeting did not see the need for a change in the hepatitis B vaccine recommendation.

In addition to the hepatitis B vaccine, the ACIP also discussed the MMRV vaccine, which protects against chickenpox as well as measles, mumps, and rubella. The panel advised that the MMRV vaccine should not be given before age 4 and that children in this age group should instead receive separate vaccines for MMR and varicella (chickenpox). The U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s vaccine advisory committee has recommended new restrictions on the MMRV vaccine.

The panel also discussed the issue of rare feverish seizures associated with the first dose of the MMRV vaccine, which is currently given to kids between ages 1 and 2. The committee is scheduled to make a final decision on these recommendations on Friday.

The chairman of the ACIP, Martin Kulldorff, defended the committee against accusations of leaning toward anti-vaccine views, stating the committee's goal is to remove unnecessary risks and harms whenever possible. Committee member Dr. Robert Malone responded, stating the issue is not one of safety, but of trust and parental comfort with the medical procedure being performed at birth.

In other news, several states have announced policies to help residents maintain access to vaccines, including signing orders that ensure COVID-19 vaccinations at pharmacies without individual prescriptions. Wisconsin recently joined a list of more than a dozen states that have taken steps to follow the guidance of national physician organizations for vaccine access.

The vote on the new recommendations was 8-3, with one member abstaining. The ACIP is expected to make its final decisions on the hepatitis B vaccine and the MMRV vaccine on Friday. Stay tuned for more updates.

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