Hepatitis B Vaccine Debate: Science or Politics?

The CDC's vaccine advisory panel experienced an unprecedented level of chaos during a recent meeting, leading to a delay in voting on hepatitis B vaccines. The panel, recently reshuffled by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now includes members who frequently question vaccines.

A Meeting Like No Other

Unlike typical meetings that focus on new vaccines or updates, this session discussed a vaccine administered in the same way for years. The CDC has recommended that all newborns receive the hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth for 34 years. However, the panel is now considering a change, suggesting that only women who test negative for hepatitis B should decide, with their doctor, if their baby gets the vaccine at birth.

Public Health Concerns

Public health experts express grave concerns about this potential change, warning that it could lead to more infections. Hepatitis B is a serious virus that can cause liver disease, cancer, and even death. The virus can spread from mother to child during birth, and since not all pregnant women get tested, experts argue that delaying the vaccine could be risky.

Unusual Meeting Dynamics

The meeting was held in a broadcast studio with bright lights and big cameras, resembling a TV show more than a scientific discussion. Presentations were given by anti-vaccine activists and a climate scientist who has written for anti-vaccine publications. These presenters made claims that ignored decades of evidence supporting the vaccine's safety and effectiveness.

Controversial Claims and Reactions

One activist, Mark Blaxill, suggested that symptoms like fatigue and irritability in babies could be linked to brain swelling. Dr. Cody Meissner, the only long-time member on the panel, strongly disagreed, stating that those symptoms were not related to brain swelling and that such a statement was not something a doctor would say.

By afternoon, many panel members were confused about the voting language, joking about its unclear nature. The panel's chair, Dr. Kirk Milhoan, was absent for the decision to postpone the vote. The vice chair, Dr. Robert Malone, explained that Milhoan was traveling and unavailable.

Criticism from Health Experts

Dr. Jason Goldman, president of the American College of Physicians, labeled the meeting "political theater," accusing the panel of wasting taxpayer money by avoiding a serious scientific discussion. Senator Bill Cassidy, a liver doctor, declared the panel "totally discredited" and accused it of not protecting children.

Future Topics and Controversies

The panel is expected to discuss the childhood immunization schedule and aluminum salts in vaccines, topics that are contentious among anti-vaccine activists. These activists often claim that children receive too many vaccines and that aluminum salts cause health problems, despite a lack of scientific evidence supporting these claims.

Aaron Siri, an anti-vaccine lawyer who has represented Kennedy, is expected to give a presentation. Siri has advocated for revoking the approval of the polio vaccine, a stance that has drawn criticism from Senator Cassidy. Siri responded by challenging Cassidy to a debate.