RFK Jr’s vaccine panel recommends new RSV treatment for infants | Robert F Kennedy Jr

Health secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr, the reconstituted vaccination advice panel recommended a new treatment to prevent the syncytial respiratory virus (RSV) in infants.

Treatment, a new monoclonal antibody called Clesrovimab, which will be sold under the brand enlisted by Merck, was recommended by the powerful committee after being approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about two weeks ago.

The tortured vote was a day late and after series of questions from the seven new members of the panel – all the ideological allies of Kennedy, who consider “over -mediation” as one of the greatest threats to American children.

“I think we have to ask ourselves what the parent would say given this data,” said Dr. Retsef Levi, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology operations professor, who for hearing hours turned out to be a frank study. He said he would be “worried” and finally voted against the recommendation of the monoclonal antibody.

The panel, officially called the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Consultative Committee for Vaccination Practices (ACIP), is an essential federal advisory advice which recommends how the agency should distribute vaccines and other interventions, such as monoclonal antibodies, to the American public.

Kennedy’s decision to withdraw his 17 members in service and replace them with handpicked appointments has been condemned by the medical establishment. Meetings are essential in scientific and medical circles.

Voting is only an activity order for the panel, which should consider a much more controversial question this afternoon – Thimérosal in seizures. The conservative based on ethylmercure was removed routine vaccines on childhood in the early 2000s, but its use is considered a problem of strict science.

The use of Thimérosal has remained a subject of discussion for anti-vaccine defenders for decades. The preservative is contained in multi-dose bottles of antigrippal vaccines. Experts argued that the elimination of the ingredient would force manufacturers to send only single -use bottles, which would be more expensive. Access to the vaccine was an objective of anti-vaccine defenders.

Kennedy unilaterally pulled the 17 members of the ACIP in June, citing conflicts of interest, and replaced the group with eight ideological allies. One of these named people, Dr. Michael Ross, abandoned the panel on Tuesday after a government financial review, and after being publicly reported that he was not employed by two universities where Kennedy said he had had appointments. This left seven members – much less than the 19 typical panel voting members.

The vote for members was to recommend Clesrovimab, a monoclonal antibody, for all infants under eight months born during or entering the RSV season. They also voted on the opportunity to include this medication in an important program called vaccines for children, through which about half of all American children access vaccines.

Although five members finally voted yes, it was only after a long discussion, a “no” of Levi voting, and a second “no” of the nurse Vicky Pebsworth, who was director of volunteer research for one of the oldest anti-vaccine groups in the country.

The RSV is the main cause of hospitalization among American infants, and most infants are infected during the first year of life. Between 2% and 3% are hospitalized, the majority of which have no underlying health problems. Before 2023, there was no prolonged action prevention for RSV.

The effectiveness of monoclonal antibodies decreases over time. Although some members of the APIP asked whether it was problematic to repel the probable transmission of the disease to the toddler, the CDC career scientists said that it was the point – the most dangerous moment for a child to contract the RSV is taking place in the first months of life.

“Part of what we want to do is protect them when they are the most vulnerable,” said Adam McNeil, deputy chief of the CDC for epidemiology in respiratory viruses. “The biggest impact among these newborns is to obtain them [ages] Zero to two months [old] – and pass them by this vulnerable period. “”

During the 2024-2025 respiratory disease season, 57% of infants were born from a vaccinated mother or received monoclonal antibodies at birth. As a result, RSV hospitalizations have been reduced from 30% to 40%, according to CDC data.