The newly appointed vaccine advisors for U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will convene next week; however, their agenda indicates that certain anticipated topics, such as the vote on the Covid-19 vaccine, may not be addressed.
The Advisory Committee on Vaccination Practices provides recommendations for vaccine usage in the country and outlines vaccination schedules along with advice on adult shots for children. Recently, Kennedy suddenly dismissed the current panels and carefully selected 17 members, which includes 8 alternatives with several members known for their anti-vaccine perspectives.
The agenda for the first meeting of the new committee, published on Wednesday, appears to be shorter than anticipated. Although a session regarding the Covid-19 vaccines is included, there are no votes listed on the agenda. Instead, the committee is expected to vote on the fall flu vaccination, RSV vaccinations for pregnant women and children, and the use of a preservative called Thimerosal, which is found in certain flu shots.
It remains unclear who authored the agenda. There was no chairperson named for the committee, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has not provided any comments.
The committee will not address HPV or meningococcal vaccines
Notably absent from the agenda are several vaccine policy proposals that the advisors were supposed to discuss this month, including vaccines for HPV and meningococcal bacteria, according to Dr. Susan Cresley, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
She expressed concern that the committee is focusing on topics where “science is settled.”
“Every American should reflect on how we reached this point, where leaders seem to be pushing their own agenda instead of safeguarding our communities,” she said, fearing it reflects a “calculated strategy to introduce unnecessary and harmful fears surrounding vaccines.”
The committee is tasked with recommending how FDA-approved vaccines should be utilized. Traditionally, these recommendations have been submitted to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Historically, most recommendations have been accepted and used by insurance companies to determine vaccine coverage.
However, with no directors at the CDC, the committee’s recommendations will be sent directly to Kennedy.
Thimerosal has long been a target for anti-vaccine activists
In the early 20th century, Thimerosal was added to specific vaccines to prevent bacterial contamination in multi-dose vials, enhancing safety and accessibility. Although it is present in very small amounts, being a form of mercury, it began to raise concerns in the 1990s.
Kennedy, a prominent advocate for the anti-vaccine movement before becoming President Donald Trump’s health secretary, has long alleged that the government has hidden the potential dangers linking Thimerosal to autism.
Multiple studies have found no connection between Thimerosal and autism. Additionally, all vaccines produced for the U.S. market since 2001 that are routinely recommended for children under 6 either do not contain Thimerosal or only contain trace amounts, with the exception of the inactivated influenza vaccine.
Currently, Thimerosal is only found in multi-dose flu vials and is not part of most single-dose flu shots available today.
Paul Offit, a vaccine specialist at Philadelphia Children’s Hospital, noted that focusing on Thimerosal could compel manufacturers to shift to single-dose vials.
A coalition of doctors challenges Kennedy’s vaccine strategy
Last week, 30 organizations urged insurance companies to continue covering the COVID-19 vaccine for pregnant women, following Kennedy’s statement that the shot is no longer recommended on a routine basis for that demographic.
A coalition of doctors has also voiced opposition to the changes made by Kennedy in his vaccine committee. His new committee members include scientists who have extensively researched mRNA vaccine technology and have become conservative darlings as vocal critics of the Covid-19 vaccine, pandemic lockdowns, and leaders of groups often associated with spreading vaccine misinformation.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has consistently published its vaccination recommendations, aligning with government guidelines over the years. However, Cresley remarked on the potential for quick divergence in response to governmental vaccination guideline changes. “Nothing is off the table.”
“We will do whatever is necessary to ensure every child in every community has access to safe and effective vaccines,” she stated.
___
The Associated Press School of Health Sciences is funded by the Howard Hughes Medical Institution’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. AP retains sole responsibility for all content.
Source: apnews.com