Hepatitis B Vaccine Debate: Science or Politics?

The CDC's vaccine advisory panel faced a chaotic meeting, delaying a vote on hepatitis B vaccines. The panel, recently reshuffled by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. , is now filled with members who often question vaccines. The delay happened because of confusion over the voting language, pushing the decision to the next day. This meeting was different from usual. Normally, the panel talks about new vaccines or updates. But this time, they discussed a vaccine that's been given the same way for years. The CDC has recommended that all newborns get the hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth for 34 years. But now, they're thinking about changing that. They might suggest that only women who test negative for hepatitis B should decide, with their doctor, if their baby gets the vaccine at birth. Public health experts are worried. They say changing the schedule could lead to more infections. Hepatitis B is serious. It can cause liver disease, cancer, and even death. The virus can spread from mother to child during birth. Not all pregnant women get tested, so experts say delaying the vaccine could be risky. The meeting was unusual in other ways too. It was held in a broadcast studio with bright lights and big cameras, making it look more like a TV show than a scientific discussion. The presentations were given by anti-vaccine activists and a climate scientist who has written for anti-vaccine publications. They made claims that ignored decades of evidence showing the vaccine's safety and effectiveness. One activist, Mark Blaxill, suggested that symptoms like fatigue and irritability in babies could be linked to brain swelling. But Dr. Cody Meissner, the only long-time member on the panel, disagreed strongly. He said 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 what they were voting on. They joked about the unclear voting language. The panel's chair, Dr. Kirk Milhoan, wasn't there for the decision to postpone the vote. The vice chair, Dr. Robert Malone, said Milhoan was traveling and wouldn't be available. Dr. Jason Goldman, president of the American College of Physicians, called the meeting "political theater. " He said the panel was wasting taxpayer money by not having a serious scientific discussion. Senator Bill Cassidy, a liver doctor, said the panel was "totally discredited" and not protecting children. The panel is also expected to talk about the childhood immunization schedule and aluminum salts in vaccines. These are hot topics among anti-vaccine activists, who often claim that children get too many vaccines and that aluminum salts cause health problems. But these claims aren't supported by scientific evidence. Aaron Siri, an anti-vaccine lawyer who has represented Kennedy, is expected to give a presentation. He has advocated for revoking the approval of the polio vaccine. His presence on the agenda upset Senator Cassidy, who criticized him on social media. Siri responded by challenging Cassidy to a debate.