CDC Vaccine Panel Faces Internal Division,Delays Hepatitis B Vaccine Decision
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) convened for a second day of meetings marked by internal disagreement and a surprising postponement of action on the birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine. The panel initially addressed insurance coverage for the MMRV vaccine for low-income children, but the focus quickly shifted to the hepatitis B suggestion.
Despite some committee members expressing openness to delaying the first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine, a motion was made to indefinitely postpone a decision on the matter.Dr. Robert Malone, an ACIP member and associate of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., argued that “enough ambiguity” remained regarding the vaccine’s safety, effectiveness, and optimal timing, making a vote premature.
The motion passed 11 to 1,with Dr. Paul Kulldorff casting the sole dissenting vote. Liaisons representing major medical groups expressed relief at the decision, citing data demonstrating the current policy’s success in reducing hepatitis B cases. This stance contrasted with data presented by CDC scientists supporting the safety and efficacy of administering the vaccine promptly after birth.
Dr. Amy Middleman, representing the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine, emphasized the importance of weighing benefits against risks, stating, “There’s always some risk…The committee’s scientific challenge is to determine whether the benefits outweigh the risks.” She advocated for utilizing evidence-grading tools in future evaluations.
Final approval of the panel’s votes rests with acting CDC Director Jim O’Neill, who was appointed by kennedy following the ousting of Senate-confirmed Director Susan Monarez. Monarez’s removal was partially attributed to her refusal to commit to ACIP recommendations without first reviewing supporting evidence,as she testified to the Senate earlier in the week.
The panel will later vote on recommendations for eligibility for the latest COVID-19 vaccines.
The debate over the hepatitis B vaccine aligns with longstanding criticism from Children’s Health Defense, an anti-vaccine group founded by Kennedy, which claims the risk of illness is low for most newborns and the vaccine can be harmful.
Tensions between the committee and the broader medical community were also evident on thursday. Dr.Jason Goldman, president of the American College of Physicians, urged ACIP to maintain current MMRV recommendations and criticized the process, alleging the sidelining of subject matter experts and clinicians. He also noted the removal of representatives from medical groups from ACIP workgroups,though they retain the ability to comment during public meetings.
