CDC's Dubious Vaccine Panel to Revisit Childhood Schedule Amid Government Shutdown.
A meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has been rescheduled for December 4 and 5, just as the government shutdown is coming to an end. The committee, which was installed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy in June, will discuss vaccine safety and the childhood immunization schedule.
Kennedy's ACIP members are known for their anti-vaccine views, and many have been criticized for their lack of qualifications and experience. In September, the panel had planned to vote on altering the current recommendations for hepatitis B vaccinations but ultimately abandoned the plan after realizing that it was based on flawed data.
The CDC's National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and Tuberculosis Prevention had presented a wealth of evidence on the safety of the vaccine. However, Kennedy's appointees have questioned the findings, citing a lack of data on the effectiveness of the birth dose.
Pediatricians have spoken out against Kennedy's lineup, calling for the removal of all 17 members and the replacement of the panel with qualified experts. The American Academy of Pediatrics has also developed its own evidence-based vaccine schedule, which pediatricians are now trusted to follow.
The nation's children are already paying the price for this approach, with avoidable illnesses and hospitalizations on the rise. The AAP is urging federal leaders to restore the science-based deliberative process that has made the US a global leader in public health. With the shutdown ending, it remains to be seen whether the ACIP will take a more cautious approach or continue down its current path.
A meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has been rescheduled for December 4 and 5, just as the government shutdown is coming to an end. The committee, which was installed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy in June, will discuss vaccine safety and the childhood immunization schedule.
Kennedy's ACIP members are known for their anti-vaccine views, and many have been criticized for their lack of qualifications and experience. In September, the panel had planned to vote on altering the current recommendations for hepatitis B vaccinations but ultimately abandoned the plan after realizing that it was based on flawed data.
The CDC's National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and Tuberculosis Prevention had presented a wealth of evidence on the safety of the vaccine. However, Kennedy's appointees have questioned the findings, citing a lack of data on the effectiveness of the birth dose.
Pediatricians have spoken out against Kennedy's lineup, calling for the removal of all 17 members and the replacement of the panel with qualified experts. The American Academy of Pediatrics has also developed its own evidence-based vaccine schedule, which pediatricians are now trusted to follow.
The nation's children are already paying the price for this approach, with avoidable illnesses and hospitalizations on the rise. The AAP is urging federal leaders to restore the science-based deliberative process that has made the US a global leader in public health. With the shutdown ending, it remains to be seen whether the ACIP will take a more cautious approach or continue down its current path.
What was that all about again? 
And now, another meeting is rescheduled and it's like "wait, let's revisit this" 
. I don't get why we can't have a straightforward conversation about vaccine safety 
. Anyway, hope the new meeting will bring some much-needed clarity to the whole situation 
. Can't help but wonder what the CDC found on that birth dose... 
! So the CDC's vaccine panel is getting together again because of a government shutdown, and I'm just worried that they're gonna mess up our childhood vaccination schedule all over again 
. Those 17 appointees by Kennedy are total red flags - no qualifications whatsoever 
. And now pediatricians are speaking out against them, saying we need real experts making these decisions 
. We've got all this evidence showing the vaccines are safe and effective 
. I just hope they don't fall for it again 
. Our kids are already getting sick left and right because of this approach, and it's just not fair 
.
. Can someone please just take charge and make sure our kids' health is protected 
?
they're literally paying with their bodies because of this vaccine debacle...i mean i know there are still some 'skeptics' out there but come on, 17 people can't be that wrong...the data is clear and the CDC has all the info they need, why are these ppl still questioning it? 
and what's up with this gov shutdown thingy? is this really a good time to mess around with kids' health? 
i swear, as a mom myself, i just want my kiddo to be safe...if we can't trust the experts to make decisions on our behalf, who can we trust? 
I'm so tired of these vaccine skeptics trying to undermine our progress on public health. It's like, we've got the data right in front of us - the CDC has been presenting it for years and what are we getting? A bunch of questions about a birth dose that have no basis in reality 
It's like they're putting the health and safety of our kids at risk just to appease some fringe group. The AAP is right to call for a change - we need science-based decision making, not emotional appeals.
. And now they're revisiting the childhood schedule? It's like we're taking two steps back 
! The government shutdown is just a perfect excuse, but at this point, something needs to change 
. I hope they get their act together and prioritize science over politics 
.
. And to think that these people have been questioning vaccine safety and effectiveness... it's like they're playing with fire 
. I'm so glad the American Academy of Pediatrics has come out strong on this one, advocating for real experts who actually know what they're talking about 
. Can we please just get some competent leaders in place already? 
.
what's going on with this vaccine panel?! 
that's just crazy talk. pediatricians are right, these people need to be booted out ASAP. 
I mean, come on, if there's flawed data, just fix it, don't delay everything. And what's with these anti-vaxxers on the panel? I heard some of them haven't even finished med school 
]
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. And now the AAP has got their own schedule in place... fingers crossed this means some real science will go into revising those childhood immunization schedules 
. but at the same time, I'm all for keeping an open mind and being cautious with new info 
... or maybe not 
, it's hard to say honestly 
. Those pediatricians are right, we need experts in their field making decisions for our children, not some politicians trying to play doctor 
. The fact that they abandoned the plan on hepatitis B vaccinations just because of flawed data is a big red flag 
. And now they're questioning the safety of vaccines based on birth doses? It's like they're playing with fire 
. Can't we get some real experts in there to make decisions that put our children first? 
. Now, it seems like we're back to playing chicken with diseases again 
. The American Academy of Pediatrics is saying that these people aren't qualified, and honestly, I'm starting to agree 
. I mean, who needs 17 members on a panel when you've got experts who know what they're doing?