The vaccine advisory panel for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) voted to change the childhood vaccine schedule; but none of the outside experts involved knew why.
Even as infectious diseases experts and other liaison members questioned the reasoning for rushing ahead with a vote, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s handpicked members of CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended that the combined measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) vaccine not be administered until the age of four.
The motion also recommended that children should receive two separate doses — MMR and chickenpox — instead of the combined shot.
Children are eligible to receive the MMRV shot beginning at 12 months of age, though most pediatricians don’t use the vaccine in younger children. But the recommendation removes the choice.
The recommendation isn’t final and would typically need to be approved by the CDC director. But Kennedy ousted the previous director late last month, so either he or acting agency director Jim O’Neil will sign off.
At the core of the argument was the slightly elevated risk of febrile seizures associated with the combined shot in younger children. Febrile seizures can be caused by all types of fever, stemming from vaccines or infections.
Opponents of the panel’s vote argued that febrile seizures are rare and have not been associated with long-term effects. Others argued that even though the seizures don’t cause permanent damage, they can be traumatizingfor families and could discourage other parents from getting their children the MMR and chickenpox shots.
The panel also voted against tying the recommendation to the Vaccines for Children program, which provides vaccines to children for free. This essentially allowed the program to continue covering MMRV vaccines for children under 4, despite what the committee recommended.
AHIP, the trade group representing many large health insurers, said this week that health insurance companies would continue to cover vaccines as normal until at least the end of 2026.
So, despite the decision, vaccine coverage remains effectively unaltered for the time being.
Welcome to The Hill’s Health Care newsletter, we’re Nathaniel Weixel and Joseph Choi — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health.
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The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will meet Friday to discuss and vote on COVID-19 vaccine guidance, along with voting on whether to change existing Hepatitis B vaccine guidance.
In Other News
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States band together on vaccine recommendations in challenge to Trump administration
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