Introduction to the CDC Vaccine Panel
A federal vaccine advisory committee plans to review the childhood vaccination schedule and scrutinize vaccines that have been approved for decades, fueling concerns that the panel may consider changes to long-standing vaccine recommendations.
Background on the Advisory Committee
On Wednesday, the newly appointed Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices convened for the first time. Earlier this month, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired all 17 members of the panel and appointed eight of his own, many of whom have expressed skepticism about the value and safety of vaccines. The independent panel of experts makes recommendations to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about who should get certain vaccines, which can in turn influence whether the vaccines are covered by insurance.
New Committee Chair and Agenda
The new committee chair, Martin Kulldorff — a biostatistician who criticized pandemic-era lockdowns and said he was fired from Harvard for refusing to get a Covid vaccination — struck a combative tone as the meeting began. “Some media outlets have been very harsh on the new members of this committee, issuing false accusations and making concerted efforts to put scientists in either a pro- or anti-vaccine box,” Kulldorff said. “Such labels undermine critical scientific inquiry, and it further feeds the flames of vaccine hesitancy.”
Review of Vaccine Recommendations
Kulldorff also announced the creation of two new work groups, subdivisions of the independent panel that review vaccine data and develop recommendation options to present at ACIP meetings. One will look at the cumulative effect of recommended childhood vaccines, including potential interaction effects between the shots. Another will re-evaluate vaccines that haven’t been reviewed in more than seven years, Kulldorff said, including hepatitis B vaccines and a combination vaccine that protects against measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Concerns and Criticisms
However, many vaccine experts argue that today’s shots contain fewer antigens — the key components of vaccines that train the immune system to recognize the germ — compared with generations ago, and are therefore less taxing on the immune system. Kennedy has frequently criticized the childhood vaccination schedule, including the fact that children are vaccinated against far more diseases compared with decades ago.
Upcoming Discussions and Votes
Over the next two days, the panel is slated to discuss updated data on anthrax, chikungunya, Covid, and MMRV vaccines and vote on RSV and influenza vaccines. Recent Covid work group discussions presented Wednesday determined that updated Covid vaccines are suitable for pregnant women, babies ages 6 to 23 months, and children and adults ages 2 to 64 who are at high risk of exposure to Covid.
Conclusion
The review of the childhood vaccination schedule and the scrutiny of long-approved vaccines by the CDC vaccine panel have sparked concerns and criticisms. While the panel’s new chair and members have expressed skepticism about vaccine safety and value, many experts argue that the current vaccine schedule is safe and effective. The panel’s upcoming discussions and votes will be closely watched, and their recommendations will have significant implications for public health.
FAQs
- Q: What is the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)?
A: The ACIP is a federal vaccine advisory committee that makes recommendations to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about who should get certain vaccines. - Q: Why is the ACIP reviewing the childhood vaccination schedule?
A: The ACIP is reviewing the schedule to scrutinize vaccines that have been approved for decades and to consider changes to long-standing vaccine recommendations. - Q: What are the concerns about the new ACIP members?
A: Some of the new members have expressed skepticism about the value and safety of vaccines, which has fueled concerns that the panel may consider changes to vaccine recommendations. - Q: What vaccines will the ACIP be reviewing?
A: The ACIP will be reviewing vaccines such as hepatitis B, MMRV, and influenza vaccines, among others. - Q: How will the ACIP’s recommendations affect public health?
A: The ACIP’s recommendations will have significant implications for public health, as they will influence whether certain vaccines are covered by insurance and who should receive them.
