Latest news with #CentresforDiseaseControlandPrevention
TimesLIVE
11 hours ago
- Health
- TimesLIVE
Kennedy's new US vaccine panel to discuss measles shot for children
A new panel of US vaccine advisers appointed by health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jnr will vote on flu shots that contain a mercury-based preservative called thimerosal and discuss recommendations for use of a combination measles shot for children at an upcoming meeting. The advisers to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will also vote on who should receive the shots for respiratory syncytial virus and influenza at the meeting scheduled for June 25 and 26, according to a draft agenda posted on the CDC's website. The agenda comes days after Kennedy named eight members to serve on the Advisory Committee on Immunisation Practices (Acip), including several who have advocated against vaccines, after abruptly firing all 17 members of the independent committee of experts. 'There isn't any doubt that we're in new territory and things are being done differently than they were before,' said William Schaffner, professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and an alternate liaison to Acip. Schaffner said it would be a shorter meeting than planned, a more limited number of CDC personnel are scheduled to present at the meeting and a number of presenters have not yet been listed. The new panel will discuss proposed recommendations on the use of the combination measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) vaccine for children under five years of age.
Sinar Daily
3 days ago
- Health
- Sinar Daily
Pistachio cream recalled in US after being linked to salmonella outbreak
NEW YORK - Tubs of pistachio cream are being recalled after nearly half a dozen people reported becoming ill with salmonella infections in the United States (US), according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Xinhua reported. Emek-brand Pistachio Cream -- a product sold online for wholesale distributors, restaurants, and food service locations across the country -- has been linked to a salmonella outbreak in at least two states, the FDA said. The FDA and the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in collaboration with state and local partners, are investigating the multistate outbreak. - AFP photo for illustration purpose only The product, a nut butter spread used in desserts, including ice cream, is manufactured by Emek Dogal Saglik Urunleri Iklim Gida Insaat San Tic Ltd Sti in Türkiye and imported into the US. "The FDA and the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in collaboration with state and local partners, are investigating the multistate outbreak," reported USA Today about the development. - BERNAMA-XINHUA
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First Post
10-06-2025
- Health
- First Post
Kennedy's decision to fire independent CDC experts sparks fears of vaccine scepticism, experts warn
In a Wall Street Journal column, Kennedy, a long-time vaccine sceptic, said that he was dismissing all 17 members of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee for Immunisation Practices (ACIP) 'to re-establish public confidence in vaccine science' read more Public health professionals and others warned Monday that the dismissal of an independent panel of experts by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who cited the purpose of rebuilding trust in vaccinations, might erode confidence in already available vaccines and expose Americans to avoidable infectious illnesses. In a Wall Street Journal column, Kennedy, a long-time vaccine sceptic, said that he was dismissing all 17 members of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee for Immunisation Practices (ACIP) 'to re-establish public confidence in vaccine science.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The committee advises the CDC on the use of vaccinations that have been licensed by the US Food and Drug Administration. 'I fear that there will be human lives lost here because of this,' said Dr. Sean O'Leary, chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics' Committee on Infectious Diseases. 'It is a special kind of irony that he is saying he is doing this to restore trust, given that he is, as an individual, more responsible for sowing distrust in vaccines than almost anyone I can name,' O'Leary said. O'Leary said pediatricians have already been fielding calls from parents who are confused about conflicting announcements earlier this month narrowing the use of COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children and pregnant women. 'This is only going to add to that,' he said. A U.S. Department of Health and Human Services spokesman said the agency is prioritizing public health, evidence-based medicine, and restoring public confidence in vaccine science. The firing of the entire vaccine advisory committee comes just weeks before a scheduled public meeting in which advisers were expected to weigh in and vote on a number of decisions, including the 2025-26 COVID-19 vaccine boosters. The health agency said the committee will meet as scheduled on June 25-27, but it is unclear who would serve on that panel or how they have been vetted for conflicts of interest. The agency said it would replace them with new members currently under consideration. Fired ACIP member Noel Brewer, a professor of public health at the University of North Carolina, said it took about 18 months from the time he applied until he was serving as an ACIP member. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer decried the changes. 'Wiping out an entire panel of vaccine experts doesn't build trust — it shatters it, and worse, it sends a chilling message: that ideology matters more than evidence, and politics more than public health,' he said in a statement. Former CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden called out Kennedy's 'false claims' in the Wall Street Journal piece, saying the panel was rife with conflicts of interest. Most of the panel was appointed last year, the CDC website shows. 'Make no mistake: Politicizing the ACIP as Secretary Kennedy is doing will undermine public trust under the guise of improving it.'
Euronews
10-06-2025
- Health
- Euronews
US health secretary ousts entire CDC vaccine advisory committee
US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr has fired every member of a vital scientific committee, that advises the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), on how to use vaccines, pledging to replace them with his own staff. His actions have come under the radar with various groups having criticised his decision, which they feel may endanger the future use of vaccines in the US. Major physicians in the country have slammed the decision to oust all 17 members of the panel. Tom Frieden, president and CEO of Resolve to Save Lives and former director of the CDC, accused Kennedy of 'politicising' the Advisory Committee on Immunisation Practices (ACIP), warning that it could undermine public trust established through years of commitment and hard work. 'We'll look back at this as a grave mistake that sacrificed decades of scientific rigour, undermined public trust, and opened the door for fringe theories rather than facts,' he added. But Kennedy insists the decision was taken on merit since several members had many conflicts of interest while they were holding a position on the board. Members are currently required to declare any potential such conflicts, as well as business interests, that arise during their tenure. They also must disclose any possible conflicts at the start of each public meeting. Although it's typically not viewed as a partisan board, the entire current roster of committee members were Biden appointees. The health secretary said in an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal that the Trump administration would not have been able to appoint new members until 2028 without removing the current roster. 'A clean sweep is needed to re-establish public confidence in vaccine science,' said Kennedy Jr. Frieden says the health secretary's actions were based on false conflict of interest claims and sets 'a dangerous and unprecedented action that makes our families less safe' by potentially reducing vaccine access for millions of people. Georges Benjamin of the American Public Health Association (APHA) called the ouster 'a coup.' Bruce Scott of the American Medical Association (AMA) warned the decision could lead to lower vaccination rates and more disease outbreaks. Scott also called the ACIP a trusted source of science- and data-driven advice and said Kennedy's move, coupled with declining vaccination rates across the country, will help drive an increase in vaccine-preventable diseases. Kennedy has long been a staunch critic of vaccination programmes, gaining popularity as one of the nation's leading anti-vaccine activists, prior to his appointment as top US health official. Last month, he changed the CDC's COVID-19 guidelines – without first consulting the committee – removing it as a recommended vaccination for children and pregnant women, leaving that decision in the hands of patients. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will hold a security meeting on Wednesday following his phone call with US President Donald Trump. Israeli media says the call between Trump and Netanyahu lasted around 40 minutes, with the pair discussing a wide range of topics, from the war on Gaza to developments in the Iran nuclear deal. Asked about his call with Netanyahu, Trump didn't offer much detail, but insisted that the call with the Israeli premier went well. "Very well. Yeah, we discussed a lot of things, and it went very well. Very smooth. We'll see what happens. You know, we're trying to do something with a country we just spoke about, Iran,' said Trump. Trump however revealed that negotiations appear to be stagnant due to the Iranians being 'good negotiators'. He also again warned that a violent US approach to Tehran is not off the table. 'Sometimes they can be too tough. That's the problem. So, we are trying to make a deal so that there's no destruction and death. And we've told them that, and I've told them that, and I hope that's the way it works out. But it might not work out that way." Joining the security meeting with Netanyahu – according to Israeli media – are Defence Minister Israel Katz, Shas party chairperson Aryeh Deri and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer. Far-right figures who will also reportedly be taking part in the meeting include National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. Ben Gvir and Smotrich are not typically included in such high-level meetings. The meeting comes as Tehran is expected to respond to Washington's proposal for a nuclear deal. The Iranian response is expected to arrive in the form of a counter to the US proposal. Washington has reportedly proposed to allow Tehran to continue enriching uranium, but at low levels and for a limited time period. This will then be halted when a consortium is established for the enrichment of uranium for Iran and other countries outside of Iranian territory. Tehran is expected to reject this proposal, with rumours emerging that Iranian officials will not accept a deal in which they're told what to do on their own territory.
News18
09-06-2025
- Health
- News18
RFK Jr ousts entire CDC vaccine advisory committee
Washington, Jun 9 (AP) Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr on Monday removed every member of a scientific committee that advises the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention on how to use vaccines and pledged to replace them with his own picks. Major physicians groups criticised the move to oust all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunisation Practices. Kennedy, who was one of the nation's leading anti-vaccine activists before becoming the nation's top health official, has not said who he would appoint to the panel, but said it would convene in just two weeks in Atlanta. Although it's typically not viewed as a partisan board, the Biden administration had installed the entire committee. 'Without removing the current members, the current Trump administration would not have been able to appoint a majority of new members until 2028," Kennedy wrote. 'A clean sweep is needed to re-establish public confidence in vaccine science." Kennedy, in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece, said the committee members had too many conflicts of interest. Committee members routinely disclose any possible conflicts at the start of public meetings. Dr Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association, called Kennedy's mass ouster 'a coup." 'It's not how democracies work. It's not good for the health of the nation," Benjamin told The Associated Press. Benjamin said the move raises real concerns about whether future committee members will be viewed as impartial. He added that Kennedy is going against what he told lawmakers and the public, and the public health association plans to watch Kennedy 'like a hawk." 'He is breaking a promise," Benjamin said. 'He said he wasn't going to do this." Dr Bruce A Scott, president of the American Medical Association, called the committee a trusted source of science- and data-driven advice and said Kennedy's move, coupled with declining vaccination rates across the country, will help drive an increase in vaccine-preventable diseases. 'Today's action to remove the 17 sitting members of ACIP undermines that trust and upends a transparent process that has saved countless lives," Scott said in a statement. The committee had been in a state of flux since Kennedy took over. Its first meeting this year had been delayed when the US Department of Health and Human Services abruptly postponed its February meeting. Kennedy recently took the unusual step of changing COVID-19 recommendations without first consulting the panel. The webpage that featured the committee's members was deleted Monday evening, shortly after Kennedy's announcement. (AP) RUK RUK First Published: June 10, 2025, 03:45 IST
