The panel opts for separating the chicken pox vaccination to reduce possible seizures in toddlers.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the vaccine advisory panel for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), held its first meeting after Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. replaced more than half of the advisors with those who have voiced concerns about vaccine safety.
During this meeting, the panel voted to raise the age of recommendation for the measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox (MMRV) vaccine from 12 months to 4-6 years. The majority who voted for the change said that they would recommend that parents have their children vaccinated with two separate vaccines once they are 12 months old, then receive the MMRV vaccine as a booster when they’re older.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reported, “The CDC Immunization Safety Office’s presentation to ACIP showed that healthy 12–23 months old toddlers have increased risk of febrile seizure seven to 10 days after MMRV vaccination compared to those given separate immunization for varicella and measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR).“
HHS continued, “MMRV prelicensure studies conducted among the same age group found that fever and measles-like rash were reported at significantly greater rate among children receiving the first dose of the MMRV vaccine than children receiving first doses of the MMR vaccine and varicella vaccine during the same visit.“
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Secretary Kennedy and officials at HHS to be discerning in their approach to vaccinations.
- For Acting Director O’Niell and members of ACIP as they consider the risks and benefits of vaccines.
Sources: ABC News, NPR, Department of Health and Human Services
