US committee is reconsidering all vaccine recommendations
Move is dramatic departure for advisory group under Kirk Milhoan, who says he doesn’t like the term ‘established science’
TL;DR
- The ACIP is reconsidering all vaccine recommendations, including those for children.
- ACIP chair Kirk Milhoan emphasizes individual choice and questions vaccine mandates, framing it as 'autonomy versus public health'.
- Experts like Jason Schwartz and Elizabeth Jacobs argue that vaccines benefit both individuals and the community, and that Milhoan's approach is dangerous.
- Concerns are raised about potential increases in polio and measles cases due to declining vaccination rates.
- Milhoan suggests using real-world data from unvaccinated individuals to assess the risks of measles.
- Milhoan criticizes vaccine mandates and states' reliance on federal recommendations.
- States are increasingly decoupling their vaccination requirements from federal guidance.
- Milhoan expresses concerns about vaccines stimulating the immune system and potential links to allergies, asthma, and eczema, which experts dispute.
- Experts believe other public health organizations will need to fill the void left by ACIP's changing role.