In new level of stupid, RFK Jr.’s anti-vaccine advisors axe MMRV recommendation

In a significant shift, a panel of vaccine advisors appointed by anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has voted to modify federal vaccination recommendations for children. This decision removes the well-established measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) combination vaccine from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) schedule for children under four years old. The panel, known as the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), has undergone a dramatic transformation since June, when Kennedy dismissed all 17 experienced members and replaced them with a new group lacking extensive expertise in immunization policy. Many of these new appointees have a history of expressing skepticism regarding vaccines and pandemic responses, raising concerns about their qualifications. Among the newly appointed members, at least two have served as paid witnesses in lawsuits against vaccine manufacturers, highlighting potential conflicts of interest in their roles. In the recent meeting, which is the first of two scheduled sessions, the panel displayed a fundamental lack of understanding regarding vaccine data and analysis, with members posing basic questions about terms like "low confidence" and misinterpreting CDC presentations. The first half of the meeting was dedicated to discussions regarding the MMRV vaccine, while the latter half was set to focus on the hepatitis B vaccine. Although a vote on the hepatitis B recommendation was initially planned for today, it was delayed due to revisions in the voting question. The panel is expected to reconvene tomorrow to address both the hepatitis B vaccine and this year’s COVID-19 vaccine recommendations. The decision to reevaluate the MMRV vaccine has reignited debates that experts in the field have thoroughly investigated in the past. Currently, CDC guidelines recommend that children receive two doses of the MMRV vaccine—one between 12 to 15 months and another between 4 to 6 years of age.