CDC Vaccine Panel Set to Unleash Another Assault on Public Health
A federal advisory committee, once a bastion of scientific integrity, has been hijacked by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vocal anti-vaxxer, and his allies. Next month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) panel will convene, and its members are likely to take aim at the country's childhood vaccination schedule.
Kennedy, who unilaterally dismissed all 17 members of the advisory committee earlier this year, has been busy adding new advisors with a history of spreading misinformation about vaccines. This fresh crop of experts is expected to continue Kennedy's destructive work, revisiting and potentially reversing long-held vaccine recommendations.
One potential target is hepatitis B vaccination for newborns. The CDC recommends that children be vaccinated against the virus at birth as a preventive measure, but some of Kennedy's new advisors have expressed doubts about the vaccine's safety. This could lead to a significant shift in public health policy, putting millions of American children at risk of contracting the disease.
The panel also plans to discuss the childhood vaccination schedule on its agenda. Antivaxxers have long sought to dismantle the current schedule, and Kennedy's allies are likely to push for radical changes that would leave many young children vulnerable to preventable diseases.
This is not a new concern; earlier this year, the ACIP recommended banning vaccines containing thimerosal, an ingredient linked to autism by dubious evidence. The decision has been criticized by experts and public health advocates, who point out that studies have found no link between thimerosal and autism and that vaccination rates have continued to rise despite these changes.
The CDC's internal leadership crisis is also worth noting. Former Director Susan Monarez was fired just four weeks into her role after refusing to sign off on the ACIP's recommendations without conducting her own review. Many senior leaders subsequently resigned in protest, leaving the agency in disarray.
As the new panel convenes, it remains uncertain what specific changes will be proposed or adopted. However, one thing is clear: RFK Jr.'s influence over public health policy has reached a critical juncture, and the consequences for American children's health could be devastating if his allies succeed in dismantling the country's vaccination schedule.
A federal advisory committee, once a bastion of scientific integrity, has been hijacked by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vocal anti-vaxxer, and his allies. Next month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) panel will convene, and its members are likely to take aim at the country's childhood vaccination schedule.
Kennedy, who unilaterally dismissed all 17 members of the advisory committee earlier this year, has been busy adding new advisors with a history of spreading misinformation about vaccines. This fresh crop of experts is expected to continue Kennedy's destructive work, revisiting and potentially reversing long-held vaccine recommendations.
One potential target is hepatitis B vaccination for newborns. The CDC recommends that children be vaccinated against the virus at birth as a preventive measure, but some of Kennedy's new advisors have expressed doubts about the vaccine's safety. This could lead to a significant shift in public health policy, putting millions of American children at risk of contracting the disease.
The panel also plans to discuss the childhood vaccination schedule on its agenda. Antivaxxers have long sought to dismantle the current schedule, and Kennedy's allies are likely to push for radical changes that would leave many young children vulnerable to preventable diseases.
This is not a new concern; earlier this year, the ACIP recommended banning vaccines containing thimerosal, an ingredient linked to autism by dubious evidence. The decision has been criticized by experts and public health advocates, who point out that studies have found no link between thimerosal and autism and that vaccination rates have continued to rise despite these changes.
The CDC's internal leadership crisis is also worth noting. Former Director Susan Monarez was fired just four weeks into her role after refusing to sign off on the ACIP's recommendations without conducting her own review. Many senior leaders subsequently resigned in protest, leaving the agency in disarray.
As the new panel convenes, it remains uncertain what specific changes will be proposed or adopted. However, one thing is clear: RFK Jr.'s influence over public health policy has reached a critical juncture, and the consequences for American children's health could be devastating if his allies succeed in dismantling the country's vaccination schedule.
, this is like totally insane!!! What's happening to the CDC?! They're basically letting anti-vaxxers run wild and it's gonna put MILLIONS of kids at risk! 
I mean, hepatitis B vaccine at birth? That's like a no-brainer. We should be pushing for more vaccines not less! 
And what's with this thimerosal thing? Like, come on, there's no link to autism, folks! 
This is a disaster waiting to happen. I'm so worried about the future of public health in this country... it's like, we're gonna go back to the Dark Ages or something 
i mean i get that people have concerns about vaccines but to let misinformation influence public health policy? no thanks 
i've seen the impact of anti-vaxxer propaganda on vulnerable communities and it's just heartbreaking. what if all those new parents who are already anxious about their kids' health now start questioning the safety of the very thing that can save them from life-threatening diseases? 
theyre literally at risk of contracting hepatitis b from their newbies 
i'm lowkey terrified for americas kids health rn 
but seriously, it's kinda cool that they're questioning some of the old rules and science 
i mean, can't we just try new things and see how they work out? instead of just following tradition and stuff? let's be open to change and all that jazz 
maybe this means we'll end up with better vaccines in the end 
this whole thing is just so frustrating. i'm all for critical thinking, but when it comes to public health, we can't afford to rely on unsubstantiated claims or personal opinions. we need experts who know what they're talking about! 
. I mean, can't these people just stick to science? 
They're basically trying to undo years of progress and put millions of kids at risk 
. And what really worries me is that some of the new advisors on the panel are spreading misinformation about vaccines 
. It's like they're intentionally trying to confuse the public and undermine trust in our health system 
. I'm all for having open discussions about vaccine safety, but this is just a whole different level of crazy 
. What's next? Are we going to start questioning the existence of cancer research or something? 
. and now they wanna mess with the whole childhood schedule? great, just what we need more drama 
. this is gonna be good...
. I mean, come on, hepatitis B vaccine at birth is a no-brainer – it's what saves lives! 
But if these anti-vaxxers have their way, we could see a lot of kids getting sick because they're not protected. 
It's so frustrating that our public health system is being politicized like this 
. I mean, can you even imagine the measles outbreak that'd follow? 
Newsflash: science says it's safe 
. This is a perfect example of how important it is to have strong, independent leaders in charge of public health 
. Unfortunately, we're stuck with this mess 
.
he thinks he's fighting for truth but really he's just putting kids' lives at risk 
and i'm worried sick for the little ones, especially the newborns, if they start questioning the safety of hepatitis b vaccination 
this is what happens when you let anti-vaxxers run the show 
And don't even get me started on RFK Jr. - he's like a one-man anti-vaxxer army