Context:

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s vaccine advisory committee is addressing the use of flu vaccines and the preservative thimerosal, which some groups incorrectly associate with autism. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has begun recommending new measures, including a lab-made antibody and a vaccine for pregnant women, to protect infants against RSV, significantly improving infant mortality rates. Recently, the committee voted in favor of using Merck's clesrovimab, a new antibody shot, to protect infants. Kennedy, once a vocal figure in the antivaccine movement, replaced the previous committee members with several vaccine skeptics, raising concerns about potential biases influencing vaccine accessibility and affordability. Public health experts worry that these developments might foster vaccine hesitancy and complicate routine vaccination efforts in the future.

Dive Deeper:

• The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is considering the use of flu vaccines and thimerosal, a preservative that has been falsely linked to autism by some antivaccine groups.

• In efforts to protect infants from RSV, the committee has endorsed new measures including a lab-made antibody and a vaccine for pregnant women, which have been linked to improved infant mortality rates.

• The committee recently approved the use of Merck's clesrovimab, an antibody shot shown to be effective in preventing emergency visits for infants, with a 5-2 vote in favor of its use.

• Kennedy, previously an antivaccine advocate, has restructured the committee by replacing its members with individuals who hold vaccine-skeptic views, raising concerns about the committee's objectivity.

• The inclusion of a discussion on thimerosal in the meeting agenda has sparked debate, with some public health experts fearing it could undermine public confidence in vaccines and affect their availability.

• The removal of the former ACIP panel has been criticized by organizations like the Big Cities Health Coalition, which fears that changes driven by ideology rather than science could make vaccines less accessible and affordable.

• Presentations prepared for the meeting indicate that the committee may continue to advocate for flu vaccinations while addressing the controversy surrounding thimerosal, a preservative used in some vaccines.