The Secretary of Health and Social Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a long -standing skeptic of vaccines, was confirmed by the US Senate after promising to work in the current vaccine approval system and to maintain the current recommendations for vaccines.
But all hope that Kennedy holds his promise and would maintain policies based on a rigorous science stolen out the window when Kennedy recently “removed” the 17 members of a committee which makes recommendations on the use of vaccines. So far he has appointed eight replacements, at least two of which should be considered unskilled according to their history of propagation of disinformation linked to the vaccine.
THE Consultative Committee for Vaccination PracticesWho can have up to 19 members, was created in 1964 to advise American centers for the control and prevention of diseases on vaccines which should be recommended for children and adults. For example, it recommends the number of doses of a vaccine to be administered at what age. He also monitors vaccine safety.
The directives of the Advisory Committee are essential to determine which vaccines are covered by insurance and which are offered free of charge through a federal program to unmarked children and those of Medicaid. States can use these directives to set school attendance requirements.
Kennedy announced his decision to replace the Committee by An editorial of the Wall Street Journal on June 9Who argued that public confidence in vaccines is declining while the committee “was in the grip of conflicts of persistent interests and has become a little more than a rubber stamp for any vaccine”. (Surveys on conflicts of alleged interests within the committee, as a Posted in Science in MarchSuggest that these concerns are widely exaggerated.)
But Kennedy’s decision to appoint to the committee of persons who have dealt with disinformation is hardly a recipe to restore public confidence.
Robert Malone is a man named problematic. According to a Profile 2021 in the AtlanticMalone did early research on mRNA vaccines, then was bitter that it was not credited when the COVID-19 boost was released. He continued many talk shows doubting the security of the vaccine, arguing that the approval process was too rushed and that there was inadequate research on the effects on the reproductive systems of women; He even suggested that vaccines could worsen COVI-19 symptoms. The New York Times reported in 2022 The fact that Malone favored drugs by hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin to treat COVVI-19, although there is no evidence supporting their use.
Vicky Pebsworth has also appointed Vicky Pebsworth, director of patient research and safety at the National Vaccine Information Center, a non -profit organization dedicated to raising concerns about the safety of vaccines and the protection of people’s rights to withdraw from vaccinations. Michael Mina epidemiologist, on xCalled the center “a well -known entity resulting in the conspiracy of vaccines and generally antivaccine agendas”. For example, The organization suggests The current infant vaccine calendar has not been fully verified, and there is not enough evidence to determine if there are correlations between infant and various handicaps. (The calendar has been rigorously checked by the advisory committee.)
All the names named of Kennedy are not zero. For example, Cody MeissnerA Dartmouth pediatric teacher who previously sat on the committee and to other committees related to vaccines, is highly qualified for the role.
A common thread among Several of the people named is a history of questioning the precautions linked to COVID-19. (While the rapid development COVVI-19 vaccines with government support were one of President Trump’s greatest achievements in the first mandate, it is also that that his administration cannot flee quickly enough.) Big declaration of barringtonWho called to lift locks during the pandemic to develop the immunity of the herd. Professor of MIT Retsef Levi wrote a paper often cited – who was the subject of Many corrections – raising concerns concerning a potential correlation between COVVI-19 vaccines and cardiovascular side effects.
Questioning common wisdom is a characteristic of scientific research, and these positions – as long as they are not based on pure and simple disinformation – should not be disqualifying. The question is whether Kennedy has chosen people named according to their medical expertise or their policy. A particular position on COVVI-19 precautions should not be the main selection factor for members of a committee that makes recommendations on measles vaccines, RSV and myriad of other diseases.
“The worst thing about this is that I think the medical and scientific community will examine this group and will not trust its advice,” said the editorial staff of the Vaccines Education Center for the Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia.
Kennedy also recently canceled a contract of $ 600 million With Moderna to develop a mRNA -based vaccine against avian flu, apparently Depending on the concerns On the dangers of mRNA vaccines which, according to independent scientists, are unjustified. He announced a Change of recommendations For whom should get photos of Booster Covid-19 in a way bypassed The scientific examination process that would generally accompany this kind of change.
“The past few weeks have been chaotic with announcements and processes that do not follow any science and proven and practical sciences,” said Mary Beth Miotto, immediate president of the Massachusetts of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
These new members of the Committee must prove, through public work on the Committee, that they are ready to apply scientific rigor to in -depth analyzes of subjects linked to the vaccine. Doctors, parents and patients rely on their advice.
The editorials represent the views of the editorial committee of Boston Globe. Follow us @Globeopinion.