Anti-vaxxers are running the show at the CDC vaccine advisory meeting
This semiannual bureaucratic conclave of public health professionals is not usually must-see TV. (The summer meeting typically fine-tunes flu shot recommendations.) But earlier this month, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. removed all 17 sitting members of the committee and replaced them with the seven who now make up the group.
Critics have flagged several of the new members for their anti-vax views. But this week's conference, which began Wednesday morning, is their public debut. On Friday, the American Academy of Pediatrics put out a video message blasting the new committee and declaring themselves 'the experts on vaccinations for infants' — an allusion to the fear among many in public health that ACIP could radically alter current guidelines for childhood inoculation.
I called my favorite health communicator, infectious disease epidemiologist Jessica Malaty Rivera, to get the down-low from Day One while the meeting played in the background. Our conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
I cannot believe I am watching ACIP, a previously highly respected body, allow folks like [Dr.] Robert Malone and [Dr. Retsef] Levi to repeat demonstrably false claims. This is platforming harmful dangerous medical misinformation. It is a manipulation of data, it is a farce.
This [meeting] will likely lead to decisions being made about what's available this fall for flu and respiratory virus season.
I was not lucky enough to have an RSV vaccine when I had my kids. When my child was hospitalized for a week with RSV in 2019, I remember sobbing in the hospital wishing there was a vaccine so I didn't have to see my 19-month-old on oxygen. No parent should have to experience that, and now it is preventable.
What's at stake here is the entire pediatric vaccine schedule. The American Academy of Pediatrics posted saying if [the new committee] go after the vaccines, we will continue to have an AAP-approved vaccine schedule based on evidence. It's going to confuse parents. There's already so much distrust over who is a reliable source. They're forcing groups who've previously been in lockstep to become alternate sources of information because we can no longer rely on these .gov websites.
I now have to second-guess when I send somebody to the CDC website. And that is terrifying. When people make decisions based on lies, people will die.
They're going to cast doubt about vaccine ingredients, about vaccines and autism, about the number of vaccines, about whether it's a 'toxic load' — which is a bunch of bull. If you look at the schedule, the only thing that's increased is the amount of protection. What's in the vaccines is 90% less taxing than what was in the vaccines when I was getting them in the '80s. [Modern vaccines use far fewer antigens, and they protect from far more diseases. That makes them less demanding on kids' immune systems.]
Everybody will be impacted by these decisions. They're going to be withholding funding from the Global Vaccine Alliance, which is an absolutely abhorrent decision. It's wicked. So many kids used to die before these interventions.
ACIP has been compromised and our systems have been hijacked. So any decisions that come out of ACIP today or tomorrow, I would be extremely skeptical about. That's something I say with a very, very heavy heart.
On June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marriage that can't be denied by state law.
Although California had legalized same-sex marriage two years prior, supporters around the state said they were no less elated to learn that the U.S. Supreme Court had extended the right to all Americans. The historic news moved many to tears, shouts of joy and spontaneous celebration.
Kevinisha Walker, multiplatform editorAndrew Campa, Sunday writerKarim Doumar, head of newsletters
How can we make this newsletter more useful? Send comments to essentialcalifornia@latimes.com. Check our top stories, topics and the latest articles on latimes.com.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Insider
a day ago
- Business Insider
Tonix announces FDA approval of Tonmya for treatment of fibromyalgia
Tonix Pharmaceuticals (TNXP) Holding Corp. announced that the FDA approved Tonmya for the treatment of fibromyalgia in adults. Tonmya is a first-in-class, non-opioid, once-daily bedtime analgesic with a unique sublingual formulation that is designed for rapid absorption into the bloodstream. Tonmya is the first new FDA-approved therapy for the treatment of fibromyalgia in over 15 years. The approval incorporated efficacy from two double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, Phase 3 clinical trials of nearly 1,000 patients in total that evaluated Tonmya as a bedtime treatment for fibromyalgia. Across both Phase 3 trials, Tonmya significantly reduced daily pain scores compared to placebo at 14 weeks, the primary endpoint. Additionally, a greater percentage of study participants taking Tonmya experienced a clinically meaningful (greater than or equal to30%) improvement in their pain after three months, compared to placebo. Across three Phase 3 clinical trials with over 1,400 patients evaluated, Tonmya was generally well tolerated. Tonmya is expected to be available for adult patients in the U.S. with fibromyalgia beginning in the fourth quarter of this year. Elevate Your Investing Strategy:
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Brandi Glanville Admits She's Not Certain She Had Facial Parasite: ‘I'm Not a Doctor'
Okay, so maybe it wasn't a parasite after all? Brandi Glanville is still searching for answers about her facial disfigurement. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum has sunk thousands and thousands of dollars into finding answers, and a new doctor just gave her another diagnosis. The only thing she knows for sure is that this all started right after filming the Morocco edition of Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip. Brandi Glanville was told she had nothing wrong with her In Brandi's pursuit for answers, she let Entertainment Tonight follow her to an appointment with Dr. Michael Scoma, an infectious disease specialist. Ahead of the appointment, she reflected on the 21 doctors she had already spoken with about her facial mystery. 'I wasn't treated properly. I was told nothing was wrong with me,' she recalled. Although Vicki Gunvalson recently claimed to have caught the same parasite as Brandi while filming RHUGT, the RHOBH alum admitted she wasn't sure if she ever had a parasite. 'I thought it was a parasite. I'm not a doctor, obviously,' Brandi continued. ET's cameras followed Brandi to her appointment with Dr. Scoma, where he shared his diagnosis. He doesn't think Brandi has a parasite. Instead, he believes it's a 'deep persistent soft tissue infection with bacteria as well as fungus.' He said that this type of infection can give patients a 'creepy crawly' sensation under the skin, thus explaining the parasitic theories. For next steps, Dr. Scoma inserted a PICC line into Brandi's arm, which will give her nonstop intravenous antibiotics. He said this will be much more effective than taking oral antibiotics, and he predicted she'll need to keep this in for six to eight weeks. 'In the next couple of weeks, we should start to see some degree of improvement,' the doctor told Brandi. 'I believe Brandi's face will return to how she had it prior to developing this infection,' he continued. In the meantime, Brandi is desperate to bounce back from this setback. Between the six-figure medical bills and her loss of work after RHUGT, this former Housewife could use a miracle. The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip is streaming on Peacock and Hayu in the UK and Ireland. TELL US – DO YOU HAVE ANY WORDS OF SUPPORT FOR BRANDI DURING THIS ONGOING HEALTH BATTLE? DO YOU THINK THIS LATEST DOCTOR WILL FIND SOME RELIEF? The post Brandi Glanville Admits She's Not Certain She Had Facial Parasite: 'I'm Not a Doctor' appeared first on Reality Tea. Solve the daily Crossword
Axios
2 days ago
- Axios
At-home cervical cancer test rolls out in California
The first FDA-approved at-home cervical cancer screening device launched this week in California. Why it matters: Cervical cancer is largely preventable, yet 1 in 4 U.S. women aren't up to date on screenings for the disease, per the CDC. Teal Health's goal is to make the testing experience feel less invasive than a Pap smear, which can often cause pain. Driving the news: The Teal Wand allows people to self-collect a vaginal sample to test for HPV, the virus that causes nearly all cervical cancers. The San Francisco women's health company spearheading the device says it uses the same HPV test used in clinics and merely differs in the method of collection. The big picture: California records about 7.3 cervical cancer cases per 100,000 people every year, slightly under the national rate of 7.5. The incidence rate varies among racial groups, however, with Hispanics generally seeing higher figures. Nationwide, Black and Indigenous people also experience higher rates of cervical cancer and mortality compared to white women. "Several studies have shown that the availability of self-screening can boost participation in cervical cancer screening among underscreened persons—a population most likely to benefit in terms of cancer prevention," UCSF obstetrician-gynecologist George F. Sawaya told Axios via email. In 2023, cervical cancer screenings in the U.S. remained 14% lower than pre-pandemic levels, per a March journal article. Yes, but: It's equally critical to ensure those with positive test results get reliable follow-ups and treatment, Sawaya added. How it works: To take a sample, the wand — similar to a tampon in its dimensions — is inserted into the vagina and deploys a sponge to collect cells from the cervix. Once the sponge is extracted, it's placed in a vial and mailed to the lab. Teal medical providers then review the results and follow up via telehealth. The kit, which is shipped to your door, is available for purchase online and costs $99 with in-network insurance and $249 via credit card or HSA/FSA payment. By the numbers: Self-collected samples using the wand have proven to detect cervical precancer 96% of the time, similar to clinician-collected ones, Teal Health's 16-site clinical trials found. Eighty-six percent of participants said they'd be more likely to stay up to date with screenings if they could do it at home, per the trials. What they're saying: A lot of people don't recognize the importance of getting tested regularly because it's not always clear what a Pap smear is for, Teal Health co-founder and CEO Kara Egan told Axios. Lack of appointments, time conflicts and discomfort with the exam are also top reasons for not screening, Egan added. The wand was designed to alleviate those concerns, she said, offering the "same accuracy, but just comfortably and privately from home."
