Nonetheless, members of Kennedy’s ACIP intended to postpone the initial dose by a month. A vote was set up to suggest not administering a birth dose unless there was “decision-making based on individual assessment.” Initially, the panel appeared ready to support the modification, but the strategy unraveled with basic inquiries.
ACIP voting member Joseph Hibbeln, a psychiatrist, remarked: “I’m unsure if we’ve been provided any safety or comparative data looking at before one month versus after one month,” he stated. They had not.
“Furthermore,” Hibbeln added, “I’m questioning why one month was chosen as our benchmark and whether there exists data to guide us regarding the risk of adverse effects before one month or afterward at all.”
There is no evidence indicating that such a decision would be more or less secure.
The debate quickly escalated from there, resulting in a final vote of 11-1 to pause the discussion on the vaccine recommendation. As per the Federal Register notice, ACIP aims to revisit the issue. They could either revive the vote or address some different facet of vaccine recommendations.
Pediatricians push back
Health professionals have criticized Kennedy’s slate and their opposition to childhood vaccinations, including the hepatitis B vaccination schedule. The existing schedule “continues to offer the best protection against serious health issues like liver disease and cancer,” the American Academy of Pediatrics highlighted to Ars.
With ACIP’s reputation tarnished under Kennedy, AAP has introduced its own evidence-based vaccination schedule for pediatricians to rely upon. They have also emerged as a prominent opponent among medical groups to Kennedy’s initiatives. For example, in a revised federal lawsuit, the AAP, alongside other medical organizations, is striving to annul all decisions made by Kennedy’s ACIP and replace the entire panel with true experts.
Kennedy’s appointees “lack the qualifications and experience necessary for their position,” and all their votes should be deemed “null and void,” the organization stated.
AAP President Susan Kressly mentioned that pediatricians are already observing the ramifications of having an anti-vaccine advocate as the US health secretary, specifically “fear, reduced vaccine confidence, and obstacles for families in accessing vaccines.”
“The nation’s children are already suffering the consequences in preventable illnesses and hospitalizations,” Kressly stated. “We urge national leaders to reinstate the science-based deliberative process that has established the United States as a global leader in public health. Immediate action is essential.”
