Summary
On the second day of a CDC vaccine meeting, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) decided not to change the current recommendation for newborns to receive the hepatitis B vaccine at birth. They also reversed their earlier decision on the insurance coverage for the MMRV vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox. The committee, which had many new members, said they needed more discussion before making changes.
Key Facts
- The ACIP is a panel that makes vaccine policy recommendations for the CDC.
- They decided to keep the recommendation for newborns to receive the hepatitis B vaccine at birth.
- The panel reversed a prior decision on insurance coverage for the MMRV vaccine for children under age 4.
- The committee consists of new members appointed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
- The committee chose not to vote on the hepatitis B vaccine change due to a lack of consensus.
- The current policy on the hepatitis B vaccine is credited with reducing the disease dramatically.
- The final decisions from this meeting need approval from Jim O'Neill, the acting CDC director.
