Former CDC Director Condemns Kennedy Jr.'s Panel's 'Disastrous' Decision on Hepatitis B Vaccine
A former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has slammed the agency's vaccine advisory panel for a controversial decision that could put American children at risk. Tom Frieden, who served as CDC head under President Barack Obama, criticized the panel's vote to rollback a long-standing recommendation for universal hepatitis B vaccination for newborns.
In an interview with CNN, Frieden expressed his strong opposition to the panel's decision, stating, 'This is a big mistake that would endanger American children. Don’t mess with success.' He emphasized that the universal recommendation has been effective in preventing hepatitis B infections in children, with no significant harm reported since its implementation three decades ago.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, however, voted 8-3 to recommend the hepatitis B birth dose only for infants born to mothers who test positive for the virus. This decision has been widely criticized by medical experts, who argue that it could lead to an increase in hepatitis B infections among infants and children.
Frieden, now the president and CEO of the global health nonprofit Resolve to Save Lives, highlighted the vaccine's success in preventing thousands, and possibly millions, of children from contracting hepatitis B. He stressed that the virus is a serious infection that can be spread beyond maternal transmission, making universal birth dose vaccination essential.
'This decision is a step backward and goes against the best interests of our children,' Frieden said. 'It's a violation of the basic principles of effective protection. Every vaccine should be administered with informed consent.'
He called on healthcare professionals to disregard the panel's recommendation, stating that it lacks scientific credibility. Frieden urged insurers, states, and cities to follow suit and reject the panel's decision, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the universal hepatitis B birth dose recommendation for all infants.
