US CDC Vaccine Advisers Delay Vote on Restricting Infant Hepatitis B Vaccination Amid Tense Meeting
A contentious meeting between vaccine advisers for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has resulted in a delay to a vote on restricting hepatitis B vaccination for infants. The meeting, which took place earlier this week, turned confrontational at times before one member introduced a motion to delay the vote.
The decision comes after a heated debate about restricting access to the vaccine, which has been given to 1.4 billion people over the past three decades with an excellent safety record. Two members of the advisory committee demanded evidence of any harm from the vaccine, while others pointed out its benefits. Several advisers, who were hand-picked by Donald Trump's former health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, are longtime anti-vaccine advocates.
The delay in the vote is expected to give advisers more time to examine the wording before taking a decision. The move follows previous meetings where advisers recommended restricting access to Covid vaccines and measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccines, which has made it more difficult for families and providers to understand their options.
Experts warn that any change to the current hepatitis B vaccination schedule could have significant and far-reaching consequences for childhood health in the US. The leadership of the advisory committee was recently shaken up with the new chair, Kirk Milhoan, a pediatric cardiologist who has advocated against Covid vaccines and promoted the use of ivermectin.
The recommendation to vaccinate infants at birth has nearly eliminated transmission from birth parents and dramatically reduced cases of the illness in childhood. A study found that infant immunization is directly linked to a 99% decline in acute hepatitis B cases between 1990 and 2019.
Some members of the committee questioned the data presented, pointing out that studies have generally found the vaccine to be safe and well-tolerated. However, one member argued that some side effects like fatigue or weakness could be related to encephalitis.
Outside experts have also voiced concerns about the discussion, stating that the data presented are far from complete and that the 'CDC' presenters are not subject matter experts. The US population is diverse, and its healthcare system does not provide universal healthcare coverage, creating challenges to testing and follow-up vaccination for hepatitis B.
The delay in the vote has sparked fears that it could lead to more cases of liver cancer and deaths due to hepatitis B infection. Experts warn that delaying the shot from birth to two months would result in at least 1,400 infections, 300 cases of liver cancer, and 480 deaths every year – all preventable by vaccination.
The decision to delay the vote has been described as "speculation" by some members of the committee, while others have expressed concerns about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine. The outcome of the revised vote is expected to be made public on Friday.
A contentious meeting between vaccine advisers for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has resulted in a delay to a vote on restricting hepatitis B vaccination for infants. The meeting, which took place earlier this week, turned confrontational at times before one member introduced a motion to delay the vote.
The decision comes after a heated debate about restricting access to the vaccine, which has been given to 1.4 billion people over the past three decades with an excellent safety record. Two members of the advisory committee demanded evidence of any harm from the vaccine, while others pointed out its benefits. Several advisers, who were hand-picked by Donald Trump's former health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, are longtime anti-vaccine advocates.
The delay in the vote is expected to give advisers more time to examine the wording before taking a decision. The move follows previous meetings where advisers recommended restricting access to Covid vaccines and measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccines, which has made it more difficult for families and providers to understand their options.
Experts warn that any change to the current hepatitis B vaccination schedule could have significant and far-reaching consequences for childhood health in the US. The leadership of the advisory committee was recently shaken up with the new chair, Kirk Milhoan, a pediatric cardiologist who has advocated against Covid vaccines and promoted the use of ivermectin.
The recommendation to vaccinate infants at birth has nearly eliminated transmission from birth parents and dramatically reduced cases of the illness in childhood. A study found that infant immunization is directly linked to a 99% decline in acute hepatitis B cases between 1990 and 2019.
Some members of the committee questioned the data presented, pointing out that studies have generally found the vaccine to be safe and well-tolerated. However, one member argued that some side effects like fatigue or weakness could be related to encephalitis.
Outside experts have also voiced concerns about the discussion, stating that the data presented are far from complete and that the 'CDC' presenters are not subject matter experts. The US population is diverse, and its healthcare system does not provide universal healthcare coverage, creating challenges to testing and follow-up vaccination for hepatitis B.
The delay in the vote has sparked fears that it could lead to more cases of liver cancer and deaths due to hepatitis B infection. Experts warn that delaying the shot from birth to two months would result in at least 1,400 infections, 300 cases of liver cancer, and 480 deaths every year – all preventable by vaccination.
The decision to delay the vote has been described as "speculation" by some members of the committee, while others have expressed concerns about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine. The outcome of the revised vote is expected to be made public on Friday.
50% of people who are anti-vax are actually medical professionals 
! Like Robert F Kennedy Jr's friends on the CDC committee, 71% of Americans believe that the government should not tell us how to live our lives 
... but what about vaccines being a matter of public health? 
. Meanwhile, countries with universal healthcare coverage have significantly lower rates of hepatitis B infection 
. So why are we still debating this? 
I'd say a solid 8/10 
... because what we know now is that delaying it could lead to at least 480 preventable deaths every year 
. 
Those are some pretty good stats to keep in mind when making up your own decisions on vaccination!
. Apparently, some members of the advisory committee are super skeptical about the vaccine and want more proof before they're all for it 
. But let me tell you, I've got some tea - those anti-vaccine folks have been picked by someone with ties to Donald Trump's old crew, which is pretty shady 
. 
. And experts are warning that if they delay the vote, it could lead to more people getting sick and dying from it 
. I mean, can you imagine having to live with the knowledge that your child is going to get sick because of a preventable disease? 
.
). The CDC is trying to do what's best for public health, and I hope they come out with a decision that prioritizes our safety 
. Fingers crossed! 
The science is on their side, but it's always going to be a debate about safety vs benefits.
and now everyone is freaking out 
its crazy to think about how much it could impact childhood health in the US 
who are on the committee... like what even is that?? 
. What's with all the controversy surrounding this? Can't we just focus on keeping our kids healthy? 
but still some folks are questioning its safety 
That's just gonna put more people at risk, you know? 
Let's focus on protecting those little hearts instead of second-guessing ourselves! 
! You can't deny that kind of impact.
!
. And what's with these anti-vaxxers on the committee? They're just spreading misinformation and causing unnecessary drama 
. And can't they see that the CDC is just trying to do their job? It's not like they're making this up as they go along 
.
Like seriously can't believe what's going on with this whole thing... Vaccines are supposed to protect us from life threatening diseases but people are questioning their safety? Meanwhile, there's so much data showing that vaccines like Hep B have been a total game changer for childhood health in the US. I just don't get why some folks are trying to stir up controversy here