"ATLANTA -- Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s new vaccine advisory committee meets Thursday to begin a two-day session focused on shots against COVID-19, hepatitis B and chickenpox. Votes are expected Thursday afternoon on hepatitis B and on a combined shot against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox, but Department of Health and Human Services officials have not said exactly what proposals would be considered."
"Dr. Mysheika Roberts, health department director in Columbus, Ohio, said rates of the liver disease among children have dropped tremendously since it was put into place. "I don't understand the rationale of why we would stop providing that vaccine and that guidance to babies when we've seen such great progress in that area," said Roberts, who was scheduled to join the vaccine panel but was dismissed by Kennedy. "If it's not broken, why change it?""
"The committee's chair, Martin Kulldorff, also has raised the idea of recommending the MMRV combination shot not be given to children younger than 4. In a June presentation to the committee, he discussed rare instances of feverish seizures that have been associated with the first dose, given to kids between ages 1 and 2."
A federal vaccine advisory committee is holding a two-day session focused on COVID-19, hepatitis B and chickenpox vaccinations, with votes expected on hepatitis B and a combined MMRV shot. Meeting details suggest possible rollback of the longstanding recommendation to give an initial hepatitis B dose immediately after birth, a practice credited with lowering childhood hepatitis B rates and supported by major pediatric groups. A public health director questioned removing the newborn dose given past progress. The panel chair has proposed delaying the MMRV combination until after age four because of rare febrile seizures associated with the first dose; prior guidance allowed either combined or separate dosing for early rounds.
Read at ABC7 Los Angeles
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