US Health Committee Reconsiders All Vaccine Recommendations Amid Growing Resistance to Routine Vaccines
A dramatic shift is underway in the US vaccine policy landscape, with the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the nation's leading vaccine advisory body, now considering revising all recommended vaccines. The move comes as part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to erode the authority of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) over routine vaccinations.
At the heart of this shift is Kirk Milhoan, chair of ACIP, a pediatric cardiologist who has expressed skepticism about the need for universal vaccination requirements. In recent interviews, Milhoan has argued that parents should be able to make their own decisions about vaccine use, framing the debate as an issue of individual autonomy versus public health concerns.
The implications of this shift are significant. The CDC recommends vaccinations for all children up to age 18, but states and localities set their own vaccination requirements. With ACIP's recommendations no longer being automatically adopted by the CDC, it is likely that some states will begin to relax or even eliminate vaccine mandates for schools.
Critics warn that this approach could lead to a surge in vaccine-preventable diseases like measles and polio, which have seen significant increases in recent years. "This is so dangerous as to approach criminality," said Elizabeth Jacobs, professor emerita at the University of Arizona and a founding member of Defend Public Health.
Despite Milhoan's assurances that vaccines are safe, his committee has expressed concerns about the potential risks of vaccines, including allergies, asthma, and eczema. However, these claims have not been supported by decades of scientific evidence.
As vaccination rates continue to decline, experts warn that more cases of vaccine-preventable diseases could become a reality. "Vaccine-preventable diseases are so much less common because we vaccinated in the first place," said Jason Schwartz, associate professor of health policy and management at the Yale School of Public Health.
With the next ACIP meeting scheduled for February, experts predict that Milhoan's committee will continue to sow doubt about the value of vaccines, emphasizing potential harms while underplaying their benefits. The impact could be far-reaching, with recommendations from medical organizations, state and local health officials, and regional health alliances carrying greater weight than ever.
The battle over vaccine policy is set to intensify in the coming months, as America's most vulnerable populations face growing risks of illness and death due to declining vaccination rates.
A dramatic shift is underway in the US vaccine policy landscape, with the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the nation's leading vaccine advisory body, now considering revising all recommended vaccines. The move comes as part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to erode the authority of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) over routine vaccinations.
At the heart of this shift is Kirk Milhoan, chair of ACIP, a pediatric cardiologist who has expressed skepticism about the need for universal vaccination requirements. In recent interviews, Milhoan has argued that parents should be able to make their own decisions about vaccine use, framing the debate as an issue of individual autonomy versus public health concerns.
The implications of this shift are significant. The CDC recommends vaccinations for all children up to age 18, but states and localities set their own vaccination requirements. With ACIP's recommendations no longer being automatically adopted by the CDC, it is likely that some states will begin to relax or even eliminate vaccine mandates for schools.
Critics warn that this approach could lead to a surge in vaccine-preventable diseases like measles and polio, which have seen significant increases in recent years. "This is so dangerous as to approach criminality," said Elizabeth Jacobs, professor emerita at the University of Arizona and a founding member of Defend Public Health.
Despite Milhoan's assurances that vaccines are safe, his committee has expressed concerns about the potential risks of vaccines, including allergies, asthma, and eczema. However, these claims have not been supported by decades of scientific evidence.
As vaccination rates continue to decline, experts warn that more cases of vaccine-preventable diseases could become a reality. "Vaccine-preventable diseases are so much less common because we vaccinated in the first place," said Jason Schwartz, associate professor of health policy and management at the Yale School of Public Health.
With the next ACIP meeting scheduled for February, experts predict that Milhoan's committee will continue to sow doubt about the value of vaccines, emphasizing potential harms while underplaying their benefits. The impact could be far-reaching, with recommendations from medical organizations, state and local health officials, and regional health alliances carrying greater weight than ever.
The battle over vaccine policy is set to intensify in the coming months, as America's most vulnerable populations face growing risks of illness and death due to declining vaccination rates.
I'm not surprised to see this happening, tbh. It's been a while since we've seen some of these conspiracy theories take hold 
. I mean, who needs science when you have 'individual autonomy', right? 
. Newsflash: vaccines work 
! We've been doing this for decades, and they've saved countless lives.
. It's not just about parents making their own decisions; it's about the impact on society as a whole 
.
. The Trump admin is trying to undermine the CDC and erode public health infrastructure. It's concerning, to say the least 
.
. Vaccines are important, folks! 
, i mean, think about all the kids who are getting sick because their parents don't wanna vaccinate them... it's not just about individual autonomy, it's about public health! 
we need to make sure that everyone is protected from these preventable diseases. and what if some states start to relax vaccine mandates? 
that would be a disaster waiting to happen. i'm all for informed decision-making, but not at the expense of our collective well-being. let's hope acip does its due diligence before making any major changes 
, I'm talking about the potential backlash on our kids' health if we let parents dictate their own vaccine schedules 
, especially with vulnerable populations like kids in schools who are already susceptible to getting sick 
. I mean, sure, individual autonomy is one thing, but public health concerns can't be ignored 
. We've come so far with vaccines, and it's heartbreaking to think that we might be taking a step back 
, let's not risk undoing all that progress 
.
. As someone who grew up getting vaccinated without any issues, it's mind-blowing to me that some people are questioning the importance of vaccines. The fact that experts like Jason Schwartz and Elizabeth Jacobs are warning about the potential consequences of declining vaccination rates really makes you sit up and take notice.
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come on folks, this is not a debate about individual autonomy vs public health, it's about herd immunity! we need to protect our communities from vaccine-preventable diseases, especially with the current surge in cases like measles and polio 
. we can't just sit back and wait for things to get out of hand. we need to take action and promote vaccine awareness and education 
. this is not a zero-sum game where you're either for vaccines or against them, it's about finding a balance that works for everyone 
. By downplaying their benefits and emphasizing potential harms, we're putting our kids at risk 
. I'm not saying that vaccines are 100% safe but the science is clear - they're one of the safest ways to prevent serious illness 
#VaccinePreventionIsKey #ProtectOurKids #ScienceMatters
What's goin' on is that people are startin' to question the safety of vaccines, but experts say they've been proven to be safe for decades! 
I'm worried about where this is all headed...
. I get that there are concerns about allergies and stuff, but from where I'm sitting, the benefits of vaccines way outweigh the risks 
. The thought of more cases of these diseases coming back is just too scary 
.
Jason Schwartz's point about how vaccine-preventable diseases are so much less common because we vaccinated in the first place is SO TRUE 
. The next ACIP meeting can't come soon enough to see what kind of changes are actually made 
.
but like come on ACIP is makin changes w/o even thinkin about the bigger pic 
.
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