Kennedy’s new vaccine panel alarms pediatricians with inquiries into long-settled questions

The new vaccine advisory panel, led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has raised concerns among pediatricians by questioning long-established vaccine schedules and their potential effects on children. Committee chairman Martin Kulldorff announced a work group to evaluate the cumulative impact of childhood immunizations, including specific shots like the hepatitis B vaccine and the MMR-chickenpox combination. This move signals a significant shift in the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) under Kennedy's leadership, who previously replaced the entire panel with members holding anti-vaccine views. While scientists maintain that current vaccine policies are safe and effective, citing extensive research, the American Academy of Pediatrics has declared the ACIP process no longer credible. The committee also discussed COVID-19 vaccinations, with Kennedy having already recommended against them for healthy children and pregnant women, despite CDC data showing their protective benefits. Questions were raised by advisers about the trustworthiness of real-world vaccine data. Furthermore, discussions on RSV protections were postponed, and flu shot recommendations are expected to be debated, particularly concerning the preservative thimerosal, which has been falsely linked to autism by some groups. The CDC has reiterated that research shows no link between thimerosal and autism, though a relevant report was removed from the committee's website.