Kennedy's Vaccine Committee Set for COVID-19, Hepatitis B Discussions

Thu Sep 18 2025 18:28:44 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s vaccine advisory committee is set to convene for a two-day session addressing COVID-19 and hepatitis B vaccinations amid concerns about proposed changes to longstanding guidelines.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, headed by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is focusing on vaccine recommendations for COVID-19 and hepatitis B. Proposed changes could affect existing protocols, specifically questioning the necessity of administering hepatitis B vaccines at birth and adjusting recommendations for the MMRV shot. Public health officials express concerns about the implications of these potential changes as the committee gears up for a vote on key vaccinations.

ATLANTA (AP) — Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s vaccine advisory committee meets Thursday to begin a two-day session that will center on vaccinations for COVID-19 and hepatitis B, as well as discussions around the combined measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox vaccine.

Votes are anticipated Thursday afternoon concerning the hepatitis B vaccine and the combined shot. However, details regarding the specific proposals to be reviewed have not been disclosed by the Department of Health and Human Services.

According to the meeting agenda, the committee may suggest rolling back the recommendation for all U.S. children to receive the hepatitis B vaccine right at birth, a practice upheld for decades by the American Academy of Pediatrics and numerous public health officials. Dr. Mysheika Roberts, the health department director in Columbus, Ohio, expressed confusion over why such a successful practice would be reconsidered. If it's not broken, why change it? she questioned.

The committee's chair, Martin Kulldorff, has indicated a possibility that the MMRV combined vaccine could be discouraged for children under 4, citing past concerns regarding fever-related seizures associated with its first dose.

Currently, there are no new safety data available to justify revisiting past recommendations regarding these vaccinations, raising fears that new questions about vaccines' safety could deter parents from vaccinating their children. The panel, known as the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), traditionally provides guidance to the CDC on vaccine administration, with its recommendations usually followed closely by health officials.

Recent alarm has been raised regarding the makeup of the committee, as Kennedy has replaced the previous members with individuals known for their anti-vaccine stance. This development has prompted strong reactions from medical professionals and organizations, particularly after he indicated the removal of COVID-19 vaccinations from CDC guidelines regarding healthy children and expectant mothers.

As the committee prepares for key votes this week, public health organizations continue to advocate for vaccines and question the motivations behind the proposed changes to longstanding vaccination protocols.

The committee's vote on COVID-19 vaccine recommendations is scheduled for Friday.