Latest news with #MMRV
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.
Korea Herald
2 days ago
- Health
- Korea Herald
Kennedy's panel to discuss measles shot
WASHINGTON (Reuters) — US vaccine advisers will discuss recommendations for flu vaccines containing the preservative thimerosal and a combination measles shot for children this month, putting topics of concern to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. high on the public health agenda. Kennedy, who has a long history of sowing doubt over the safety of vaccines, contrary to scientific evidence, wrote a book in 2014 claiming that thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative, causes brain damage. He has also prominently promoted the idea that vaccines that combine shots against measles, mumps and rubella, as well as varicella are linked to autism. Repeated scientific studies have disproved both assertions. Since taking the role of top US health official under the Trump administration, Kennedy is changing vaccine policies for the American public. He recently asked for a review of all data including for the measles shot, by far the best way to prevent infection with the highly contagious and sometimes deadly virus. The panel, known as the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice, is due to meet on June 25 and 26. It will vote on the safety of flu shots and discuss proposed recommendations for use of the combined MMRV vaccine for children under 5 years of age, according to a draft agenda on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website on Wednesday. While the seasonal flu shot was expected to be on the meeting agenda, neither the topic of thimerosal nor the MMRV vaccine was anticipated. The meeting agenda did not specify who will be presenting data on either subject. The Department of Health and Human Services declined to comment on the record on why topics were added to the agenda or who would be making presentations. "It's not clear why thimerosal is up for a vote or discussion, unless the goal is to repeat an old anti-vaccine trope that the data does not support — that thimerosal in vaccines is harmful — and use it as a messaging point," said Dorit Reiss, a vaccine law expert at UC Law San Francisco. The committee will also vote on use of RSV vaccines, but not the next COVID-19 boosters, as originally expected, according to the agenda. Other expected votes were also removed. "The reason for the discussion of MMRV is also unclear, and the fact that the presenter is (yet to be named) raises questions," Reiss said. "Also interesting is what is not on the schedule. Why is there no vote on COVID-19 vaccines with the fall season coming up, and questions about who should get boosters?" The agenda was posted after Kennedy abruptly fired all 17 ACIP members and named eight new advisers, including several who have advocated against vaccines. "It's disappointing to see scarce public health resources used to rehash settled science," said recently fired ACIP member Noel Brewer. "Substantial research across decades has shown the safety of thimerosal as a preservative in vaccination." Thimerosal has long been used in the United States in vials of medicines and vaccines that contain more than one dose, according to the CDC. Aside from minor reactions such as redness and swelling at the injection site, there is no evidence of harm caused by the low doses of thimerosal in vaccines, the agency says. Combination vaccines to prevent infection with measles, mumps and rubella viruses are marketed in the United States by Merck and GSK. Merck also sells the ProQuad shot that includes protection against those three viruses and varicella. For children under age 4 years, the CDC currently recommends that most receive a first dose of an MMR vaccine and a separate varicella shot. For the second dose, and for children over 4, the CDC says the MMRV vaccine is generally preferred over separate shots.
The Hill
2 days ago
- Health
- The Hill
RFK Jr.'s new vaccine advisers to discuss preservative wrongly linked to autism
A key vaccine advisory panel handpicked by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is set to vote on a vaccine ingredient wrongly linked to autism as part of its scaled-down two-day meeting next week. It's the first meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) since Kennedy fired all 17 members and appointed eight new panelists, several of whom are vocal vaccine critics. The draft agenda for next week's ACIP meeting revisits issues that scientists and public health experts have long considered to be settled, including the use of the measles vaccine in children under 5 years old. ACIP is an influential panel that recommends which vaccines go on the childhood and adult schedules after reviewing safety data. If ACIP endorses a vaccine, insurers must cover it. The committee will also vote on recommendations regarding 'thimerosal containing' influenza vaccines. Kennedy has long advocated for banning thimerosal, a preservative that was widely used for decades in a number of biological and drug products, including many vaccines. In his 2014 book, Kennedy said thimerosal was 'toxic to brain tissue' and likely caused autism. Thimerosal, a compound that contains mercury, is used as a preservative to prevent harmful bacteria in multidose vials of vaccines. The compound has been largely phased out as manufacturers have shifted toward single-use vials that contain little or no thimerosal, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Thimerosal was largely removed from pediatric vaccines by 2001, amid concerns that it could be linked to autism in children. But numerous studies have disproved such a link. According to the CDC, 'a robust body of peer-reviewed scientific studies conducted in the U.S. and other countries support the safety of thimerosal-containing vaccines.' 'Even after thimerosal was removed from almost all childhood vaccines, autism rates continued to increase, which is the opposite of what would be expected if thimerosal caused autism,' CDC says on its website. Thimerosal is currently used in three flu vaccines for adults sold by Sanofi and CSL Seqirus, according to the Food and Drug Administration. It's unclear yet what the panel will discuss regarding the measles, mumps, rubella and varicella vaccines (MMRV). The current CDC childhood vaccine schedule recommends two doses for children, with the first dose at age 12-15 months and the second at age 4-6 years. CDC suggests that the MMR vaccine be given rather than MMRV for the first dose, but both shots have been on the schedule for decades. The current agenda is pared down from what was previously on the schedule. The panel is no longer scheduled to vote on recommendations related to COVID-19 vaccines, as well as HPV and meningococcal vaccines. Last month, Kennedy changed CDC's COVID-19 vaccine recommendation without the panel voting on it.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Kennedy's new US vaccine panel to discuss measles shot for children
(Reuters) -A new panel of U.S. vaccine advisers appointed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will vote on flu shots that contain a mercury-based preservative called thimerosal and discuss recommendations for measles shot at an upcoming meeting. The advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 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 CDC's website. Experts will discuss proposed recommendations whether a shot to prevent measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) should be given to children under 5 years of age. The agenda did not specify who will be presenting on MMRV or thimerasol at the meeting. Thimerosal has been used for decades in the United States in vials for medicines and vaccines that containing more than one dose, according to CDC.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
13th measles case of 2025 in the state confirmed in Woodland
( — The 13th California measles case of this year was confirmed in Woodland on Friday afternoon by the Yolo County Health and Human Services, according to the Office of the County of Yolo. Video Above: Child with measles possibly exposed others at UC Davis Medical Center Officials said the person is a resident of West Sacramento and is experiencing mild illness as they recover at home. Their vaccination status is unknown. 'Prior to two cases reported in 2024 among Yolo County residents who traveled internationally, the county had not seen a measles case since 2015,' officials said. Officials confirm there are no additional local cases that have been identified thus far, but acknowledge the measles that was detected in wastewater samples collected from the Sacramento Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant in mid-May and early June. 'Only a small portion of the wastewater processed at the plant originates from West Sacramento,' officials said. 'Although the June detections may be linked to this individual, the May wastewater detections cannot be.' The source of the earlier detections is being investigated. Officials said it is possible that another unknown person with measles was in the area. The county informs the community that the person visited the Sutter Davis Hospital while infectious and may have exposed patients, visitors and healthcare providers. Precautions to take to avoid dangers from the summer heat The hospital identified patients and staff who may have been exposed and is notifying them. Meanwhile, officials said the hospital took all the necessary safety precautions and notified Yolo County Public Health once measles was suspected. Visitors present at the time the patient was at the hospital, however, have not been identified. Anyone who was at the hospital during the following days and hours is asked to contact Yolo County Public Health's Communicable Disease Program at 530-666-8670. Yolo County Public Health said the person visited Sutter Davis Hospital, Emergency Department, 2000 Sutter Place in Davis on: May 31-June 1, between 10:12 p.m. and 1:42 a.m. June 2, between 2:42 p.m. and 1:23 a.m. 'This case of measles in our community is a good reminder that while international travelers and those traveling to outbreak areas within the U.S. are at highest risk of measles, residents can also encounter measles during travel to non-outbreak areas or even within our local community,' said Dr. Aimee Sisson, Yolo County Public Health Officer. 'It is important to check your measles vaccination status to make sure you are protected against measles infection.' Officials said vaccinations against measles fell globally during the pandemic, and the disease surged throughout the nation. The county reminds the community that measles can be prevented with a measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR), or a measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella vaccine (MMRV). The symptoms of measles begin eight to 10 days after exposure and typically start with a fever, cough, red and watery eyes and a runny nose. The person infected will then experience a rash that starts from the head and spreads downwards, three to five days after the initial symptoms. 'Measles can result in serious complications and even death for young children and vulnerable adults,' said the county. 'Exposed people with symptoms should stay home and away from others and contact Public Health immediately.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
