Panel to Examine Childhood Vaccine Schedule After Promises Not to Change It
New Health Secretary’s Remarks Raise Questions About Commitment to Maintaining Current Vaccine Schedule
To earn the vote he needed to become the nation’s top health official, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made a special promise to a U.S. senator: He would not change the nation’s current vaccination schedule. However, on Tuesday, speaking for the first time to thousands of U.S. Health and Human Services agency employees, he vowed to investigate the childhood vaccine schedule that prevents measles, polio, and other dangerous diseases.
“Nothing is going to be off limits,” Kennedy said, adding that pesticides, food additives, microplastics, antidepressants, and the electromagnetic waves emitted by cellphones and microwaves also would be studied.
New “Make America Healthy Again” Commission to Investigate Vaccines, Pesticides, and Antidepressants
In his comments, Kennedy promised that a new “Make America Healthy Again” commission would investigate vaccines, pesticides, and antidepressants to see if they have contributed to a rise in chronic illnesses such as diabetes and obesity that have plagued the American public. The commission was formed last week in an executive order by Donald Trump immediately after Kennedy was sworn in as the president’s new health secretary.
Investigation of Vaccine Schedule Raises Questions About Commitment to Maintaining Current Schedule
His call to examine the vaccination schedule raises questions about his commitment to Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Louisiana physician who harbored deep misgivings over the health secretary’s anti-vaccine advocacy. Cassidy ultimately voted to send Kennedy’s nomination to the Senate floor after he said Kennedy gave him assurances that he would not alter the federal vaccine schedule.
“On this topic, the science is good, the science is credible,” Cassidy said during a Senate floor speech earlier this month explaining his vote. “Vaccines save lives. They are safe.”
Rigorous Studies Support Safety and Efficacy of Vaccines
Rigorous studies of thousands of people followed by decades of real-world use have proven that the vaccines approved by the Food and Drug Administration for both children and adults safely and effectively prevent diseases.
Senator’s Office Refuses to Comment
When contacted about Kennedy’s remarks, Cassidy’s office did not comment.
Experts Express Concerns About Kennedy’s Commitment to Maintaining Current Vaccine Schedule
Dr. Paul Offit, an infectious-disease expert at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia who sits on a federal vaccine panel, didn’t believe Kennedy’s assurances.
“I think he will do everything he can to make vaccines less available and less affordable because he’s an anti-vaccine activist,” Offit said last week.
Kennedy’s Promise to Keep an Open Mind
Kennedy promised staffers on Tuesday during his speech that he would keep an open mind in his new job and asked them to return the favor.
“A lot of times when I read these articles characterizing myself, I think I wouldn’t want to work for that guy, either,” Kennedy said, eliciting some laughs from the crowd. “Let’s start a relationship by letting go of any preconceived perceptions you may have of me.”
Conclusion
Kennedy’s recent remarks have raised concerns about his commitment to maintaining the current vaccine schedule, which has been proven to be safe and effective in preventing diseases. His investigation into the vaccine schedule and other health issues may lead to a re-evaluation of the current vaccination schedule, which could have significant implications for public health.
FAQs
* What is the “Make America Healthy Again” commission?
+ The commission was formed to investigate vaccines, pesticides, and antidepressants to see if they have contributed to a rise in chronic illnesses such as diabetes and obesity.
* What is the current vaccine schedule?
+ The current vaccine schedule is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and is used by pediatricians around the country to decide the safest and most effective ages at which to offer vaccinations to children.
* What are the concerns about Kennedy’s commitment to maintaining the current vaccine schedule?
+ Some experts, including Dr. Paul Offit, believe that Kennedy may not be committed to maintaining the current vaccine schedule and may instead work to make vaccines less available and less affordable.
