New Vaccine Advisory Committee Backs Protection for Infants Against Dangerous Virus
ATLANTA — U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s new vaccine advisory committee backed another option to protect infants against a dangerous virus — before turning to questions about fall flu vaccines and a preservative in a small fraction of them that some anti-vaccine groups have falsely tied to autism.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices on Thursday took up protections against RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, a common cause of coldlike symptoms that can dangerously inflame infants’ tiny airways.
In 2023, U.S. health officials began recommending two new measures to protect infants — a lab-made antibody for newborns and a vaccine for pregnant women — that experts say likely drove an improvement in infant mortality. That first antibody, called nirsevimab, proved to be 63% to 76% effective against emergency department visits for infants over the last year.
(Mike Stewart / AP)
What is RSV and How Does it Affect Infants?
RSV is a common virus that can cause coldlike symptoms in people of all ages. However, it can be particularly dangerous for infants, as it can cause their tiny airways to become inflamed, leading to serious health complications.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in children under the age of one. Each year, RSV leads to approximately 57,527 hospitalizations and 2.1 million deaths worldwide.
New Measures to Protect Infants Against RSV
In 2023, U.S. health officials began recommending two new measures to protect infants against RSV: a lab-made antibody for newborns and a vaccine for pregnant women. The first antibody, called nirsevimab, has proven to be 63% to 76% effective against emergency department visits for infants over the last year.
On Thursday, the vaccine panel voted 5-2 that another newly approved antibody shot, Merck’s clesrovimab, should be used similarly. This decision has been seen as a positive step towards protecting infants against RSV.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)
The ACIP is a committee that helps the CDC determine who should be vaccinated against a long list of diseases, and when. The committee’s recommendations have a significant impact on whether insurance covers vaccinations and where they are available.
Kennedy, who was a leading voice in the anti-vaccine movement before becoming the nation’s top health official, fired the previous 17-member panel this month and replaced it with a seven-member group that includes several vaccine skeptics.
Controversy Over Thimerosal in Flu Vaccines
At its June meetings, the committee usually refreshes guidance for Americans 6 months and older to get a flu shot, and helps propel the annual fall vaccination campaign. However, this year’s meeting has been marked by controversy over thimerosal, a form of mercury that has been added to vaccines since the early 20th century to prevent bacterial contamination in multidose vials.
Kennedy has long held that there is a tie between thimerosal and autism, and has accused the government of hiding the danger. However, study after study has found no evidence that thimerosal causes autism.
(Mike Stewart / AP)
Public Health Experts Weigh In
At the panel’s meeting Wednesday, Chrissie Juliano, executive director of the Big Cities Health Coalition, lamented the ouster of the former ACIP panel and the agenda of the new one. Her organization, which represents large city health departments, is deeply concerned that many routine vaccines may soon become inaccessible or unaffordable for millions of Americans if ACIP makes changes based on ideology rather than science.
Conclusion
The new vaccine advisory committee’s decision to back another option to protect infants against RSV is a positive step towards protecting infants against this dangerous virus. However, the controversy over thimerosal in flu vaccines has raised concerns among public health experts, who fear that it may unnecessarily raise doubt in vaccines and make them more expensive and harder to get.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is RSV and how does it affect infants?
RSV is a common virus that can cause coldlike symptoms in people of all ages. However, it can be particularly dangerous for infants, as it can cause their tiny airways to become inflamed, leading to serious health complications.
What are the new measures to protect infants against RSV?
In 2023, U.S. health officials began recommending two new measures to protect infants against RSV: a lab-made antibody for newborns and a vaccine for pregnant women. The first antibody, called nirsevimab, has proven to be 63% to 76
