The federal vaccine advisory panel, recently restructured by Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, voted on Thursday to stop recommending a four-in-one shot for young children that protects against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox.In an 8-3 vote, with one abstention, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) said children under 4 should instead receive the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine separately from the varicella (chickenpox) shot.The decision, which still requires approval from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) acting director Jim O’Neill, reflects concerns about the small but documented risk of fever-related seizures linked to the combined MMRV vaccine, as reported by New York Post. Some members of the committee said the risk of “febrile seizures,” though rare, was worrying for parents. Dr Cody Meissner, who voted in favor of keeping the combined shot available, called the seizures “a very frightening experience.”The debate over MMRV vaccines is not new. In 2009, the same panel concluded that either a combined shot or separate vaccines were acceptable for the first dose, though it leaned toward separate doses. Data presented Thursday showed that 85% of parents already choose separate shots for their child’s first immunization.The panel also debated whether the new recommendation should extend to the federal Vaccines for Children (VFC) program, which provides free vaccines for families with limited means. A second 8-3 vote kept the existing recommendation in place for VFC, avoiding different rules for children depending on how they receive vaccines.ACIP delayed a separate vote on whether to stop recommending hepatitis B vaccines for newborns whose mothers are not infected. Some members, including Meissner, argued that the vaccine is “absolutely safe” and should remain in use within 24 hours of birth. Others, such as Vicky Pebsworth of the National Vaccine Information Center, questioned whether the science is fully settled.The Department of Health and Human Services said it would review insurance coverage implications before finalizing the recommendations. Insurance companies generally follow ACIP guidelines in deciding which vaccines to cover at no cost.America’s Health Insurance Plans, a national insurers’ association, confirmed it would continue covering all ACIP-recommended vaccines as of September 1 including updated Covid-19 and flu shots without cost-sharing until the end of 2026.The panel’s latest decisions come amid controversy over Kennedy’s overhaul of ACIP. Earlier this year, he dismissed all 17 existing members and appointed new ones, describing the move as a “clean sweep” meant to “re-establish public confidence in vaccine science.”Former CDC Director Susan Monarez, who was fired by Kennedy last month, told senators she was ousted for refusing to pre-approve ACIP recommendations without reviewing the evidence.“I refused to do it because I have built a career on scientific integrity,” she said. Kennedy has denied her claim.
