Organ argues that combined immunization against measles, mumps, rubella and chicken pox should be applied from 4 years
The (acronym of the United States Advisory Committee) of the United States decided, on Thursday (18.SET.2025), to modify its recommendations for children’s vaccination.
The committee has voted for children under 4 to receive separate vaccines, one against measles, mumps and rubella (the so -called MMR), and another against the chicken pox, instead of the combined version against the 4 diseases (the tetraviral). So far, tetraviral was applied to babies 12 to 15 months.
The recommendation will be sent to the interim director of (Disease Control and Prevention Center), which will determine if it will make it official guidance from the US government.
This is the 1st proposal to change in the Children’s Immunization calendar of the management of the Secretary of Health ,. The decision was made by 8 votes to 3, with abstention, during a meeting held in Atlanta.
According to a report of the committee, consisting of 12 members chosen by Kennedy, recommended the change mainly because of the slightly higher risk of seizures associated with the combined vaccine compared to the application of two separate injections.
The pediatric teacher at the Geisel Medical School in Dartmouth, who voted against the measure, said feverish seizures are verified by about 3% to 5% of all children and are not associated with any type of impairment or neurocognitive performance.
“The disadvantage of applying two doses or, as suggested, separating the two doses is that we know that adhesion decreases. And the advantage of combined vaccines is that children and adults are more likely to complete vaccination”Said Meissner.
Despite the recommendation, the committee has voted to keep the combined vaccine available for children who receive free immunizations through a federal program. The meeting had moments of confusion, with some members questioning what they had just vote for.
The group also discussed eliminating the recommendation that newborns receive the hepatitis B vaccine at birth, proposing to postpone applications until they are 1 month. The vote on this change was postponed to this Friday (19.Set).
The CDC has faced tensions regarding vaccination policies since Kennedy in June. Most substitutes have a critical position to vaccine policies against coronaviruses.
President of ACIP, announced that the panel will establish working groups to review vaccines administered during pregnancy, childhood and adolescence. Committee’s recommendations require insurers to cover vaccines, but many companies have indicated that they will maintain current coverage regardless of proposed changes.
