Experts fear upheaval in the U.S. could fuel vaccine distrust in Canada

Ottawa Citizen

19 hours ago

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Health and immunization experts are reassuring Canadians that vaccine guidance is independent and based on scientific rigor in Canada after all 17 members of the committee that provides vaccine guidance in the United States were abruptly purged this week.
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U.S. Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. dismissed all members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), long considered the gold standard of vaccine guidance. Kennedy said the move would restore trust in the medical establishment and vaccines.
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At least one expert fears the upheaval in the U.S. could fuel increased vaccine distrust and confusion in Canada.
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But there could also be benefits for Canada, University of Ottawa epidemiologist Raywat Deonandan says.
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'It means the world is going to look to us to fill the gap of global leadership,' he said.
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The actions by Kennedy, a vaccine skeptic, have been widely criticized by public health officials, doctor's groups and others throughout the U.S. who fear politicization of the committee and promotion of vaccine skepticism and conspiracy theories that will reduce routine vaccine uptake.
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Kennedy's appointment of eight replacement members this week — including several with anti-vax leanings — furthered concerns.
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Ottawa's Dr. Anne Pham-Huy, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at CHEO and chair of Immunize Canada, a coalition promoting the benefits of immunization, said she was 'profoundly shocked and deeply concerned' to learn about the dismissal of all 17 members of ACIP.
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'These are experts in the science of vaccinology, public health, infectious diseases and immunology,' she said. 'It is a group of experts that make recommendations based on science. To remove a group of individuals when that is their role is worrisome.'
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Pham-Huy said she was concerned the U.S. move could lead to increasing mistrust around immunization recommendations, including in Canada.
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'Recommendations should be based on science, not ideology or politics. Vaccines are not supposed to be political,' she said.
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'I am increasingly spending more time trying to counsel on things that used to be basic,' she said. That includes talking to some families about why tetanus is a concern and why the vaccine is important. She said she was not alone in hearing more questions and concerns about vaccines than she had in the past. She said she was happy to answer questions and talk with families, but the trend was worrisome.