Recommendations for Routine Immunizations from WGH Medical Director, Keith Price, MD
On January 5, the CDC announced changes in its recommendations for routine immunizations, decreasing the number from 17 to 11 and shifting vaccines for RSV, Hepatitis A & B, influenza, meningitis and rotavirus to “high-risk” or “shared clinical decision making.” Many medical experts have raised serious concerns about this change.
Since the changes were announced, at least 19 states have announced that they won’t follow new CDC vaccine schedule:
California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts,
Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Instead, these states say they plan to follow vaccine guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), which continues to recommend immunization practices approved by the CDC.
I feel there is good, solid justification for the routine immunization schedule that has been in place for years. I strongly endorse the recommendations of the Academy of Pediatrics (with American Academy of Family Physicians and the American College of Physicians also agreeing.) Dropping certain vaccinations has the potential to seriously impact the health of our children…and adults!
If you’re interested in reading more, below is some of the rationale for my stance.
THANKS!
Keith Price, MD
Medical Director, WGH
Keith Price, MD
Medical Director, WGH
Why are newborns vaccinated for hepatitis B?
Newborns who become infected with hepatitis B from their mother at birth and infants who contract the virus within the first year of their life have a 90% chance of developing chronic hepatitis B, an illness that can cause life-threatening issues including cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer. About 25% of those patients end up dying prematurely as a result.
Previous research has shown that if the vaccine is only given to babies whose mothers tested positive, many cases get missed.
The CDC recommends that pregnant women get tested for hepatitis B, but about 16% of expecting mothers fall through the cracks, according to the agency.
1 in 5 pregnant women in the U.S. aren’t tested, and only 1 in 3 of those who test positive complete follow-up care. This is because care is fragmented and many don’t have prenatal care. Hep B is also often asymptomatic and poorly explained, follow-up requires extra visits, and once the baby is born the system shifts its focus away from the mother.