RFK Jr.'s vaccine advisors recommend RSV antibodies for infants
Federal vaccine advisors on Thursday recommended Merck's new RSV antibody shot for infants younger than eight months old in their first respiratory virus season, if their mother didn't receive a vaccine during pregnancy.
Why it matters: The 5-2 vote marked the first decision from HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s handpicked committee, which advises the CDC on immunization policy.
But the discussion reflected skepticism from some committee members about vaccine safety and administering shots to infants.
State of play: The FDA approved the Merck antibody shot for infants earlier this month. The recommendation from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices still has to be endorsed by the CDC, which currently lacks a full-time political leader.
Zoom in: Panel member Retsef Levi, a professor of operations management at MIT, voted against the recommendation. He questioned the safety of the antibodies for healthy infants, and said he would not feel comfortable giving them to his own children if they didn't have existing health issues.
"My objection is based on the fact that I don't feel this is ready to administer to all healthy babies," Levi said.
Vicki Pebsworth, a nurse and public health Ph.D. who's served on the board of an anti-vaccine group, also voted no.
Cody Meissner, a pediatrician who's served as a consultant to the committee on RSV vaccines prior to his appointment as a voting ACIP member, pushed back against the concerns.
"If I were your pediatrician, I would strongly recommend that your wife either receive the RSV vaccine or a monoclonal antibody at birth," Meissner said.
"These are truly remarkable products. They are safe and they're effective, and I don't think there's any further data that needs to be presented," he added.
ACIP also voted in favor of recommending that the RSV vaccine be included in the federal Vaccines for Children program, which provides no-cost shots to kids whose families would otherwise not be able to afford them.
"This is extremely important that VFC cover this product," Meissner said. "It is very important to ensure equity in our country ... It would not be right, because these are expensive products, that only families that are well insured have access to these products."
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