Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. . said to be pushing for a change to childhood vaccinations.Secretary Kennedy is looking at the Danish system which recommends only 10 of the 17 shots on the US list. Joining us now, former FDA Commissioner uh Dr. . Scott Gotautle.He serves on the boards of Aluminina, Fizer, and United Health. He is also a CNBC contribu contributor. Good morning, Dr.. Gotautle. Good to have you on. >> Good morning.>> Do what's what's the uh what do you think uh of th ...

Joining us now, Dr. . Irwin Redliner. He is an MS now public health analyst and the founding director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University.Angela Coros is back with us. >> It is good to see you, Dr. . Redliner.Let's talk about these ACA subsidies because there was a really upsetting headline from NBC News, which is that with Obamacare premium hikes, more people are opting for no coverage or for cheaper plans. What does that mean for those folks who are not going to have th ...

Vaccine Advisory Panel Decisions - The CDC vaccine advisory panel has already voted against recommending the combined measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox vaccine for children under four, suggesting separate administration of the chickenpox vaccine [1] - The panel delayed a decision on the hepatitis B vaccine for newborns [1][18] COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations - The panel is considering changing the current recommendation that individuals 6 months and older receive the COVID-19 vaccine [4] - The proposed new recommendation suggests vaccination decisions should be based on individual or shared clinical decision-making, particularly for those under 64 [4] - A recommendation is being considered to require prescriptions for COVID-19 vaccines at the state and local levels [5] Concerns and Barriers to Vaccination - Medical groups have expressed concerns that requiring prescriptions for COVID-19 vaccines would create unnecessary barriers to vaccination and may not effectively target high-risk populations [6][7] - Concerns exist regarding the affordability of requiring prescriptions and potential confusion for pharmacies [7] - There are worries that these hurdles could lead to increased preventable hospitalizations and deaths if high-risk individuals are unable to get vaccinated against COVID-19 [20] Insurance Coverage - American health insurance plans intend to cover vaccines based on the prior schedule, but are undergoing their own process to determine future coverage [10] - The link between ACIP recommendations and insurance coverage needs refinement due to ACIP's perceived dysfunction [10] MMRV Vaccine Clarification - The panel's recommendation is not to avoid the MMRV vaccine, but to administer it separately [11] - Only about 15% of parents were administering the four-strain vaccine for the first dose due to the risk of febrile seizures [12] - The American Academy of Pediatrics has its own science-based immunization schedule, which most pediatricians are expected to follow [16]

Public Health - Louisiana Republican Senator Bill Cassidy urged Robert F Kennedy Jr to promote vaccination against whooping cough due to a potential record-breaking nationwide outbreak [1]

Vaccine Efficacy - Some vaccines are considered highly effective, such as the polio vaccine [1] - Certain vaccines are deemed to "pure and simple work" and are not controversial [2] Vaccination Recommendations - It is important to be cautious when suggesting that some individuals do not need to be vaccinated [1] - Vaccines that are not controversial should be utilized to prevent the spread of disease and protect others [2] Potential Risks of Non-Vaccination - Failure to vaccinate can lead to individuals contracting diseases and endangering others [2]

Vaccination & Public Health - RFK Jr's stance is that vaccination has replaced infectious diseases with chronic diseases, fueling his anti-vaccine efforts [2][3] - Concerns raised that the current Secretary of Health holds a strong anti-vaccine agenda, potentially leading to dire consequences nationwide [13][14] - The Florida Surgeon General's decision to remove vaccine mandates is seen as a direct consequence of the Secretary of Health's views [14] - Over 1,000 current and former HHS civil servants have signed an open letter calling for the Secretary of Health's resignation due to concerns about endangering public health [15] Healthcare Policy & Funding - The $50 billion rural health transformation fund over six years is insufficient to offset the $87 billion in cuts impacting hospitals, especially those relying on Medicaid [5][6] - 79 medical societies have united to issue counter guidance, suggesting widespread disagreement with the current health policies [7] CDC & Scientific Integrity - Allegations that the former CDC director was pressured to pre-approve recommendations from a vaccine advisory panel with anti-vaccine rhetoric, leading to her dismissal [11] - The former CDC director was allegedly asked to fire talented federal employees without cause [12] Chronic Disease - The epidemic of chronic disease is a long-standing issue across administrations, not solely attributable to the current administration [9]

Public Health Situation - International measles outbreak is ongoing [1] - The outbreaks are declining [1] - Most measles cases are unvaccinated Americans [1] Vaccination and Treatment - Some populations do not want to vaccinate [2] - Protocols are in place for treating people who get measles [2] Government Response - CDC teams are deployed where governors have requested assistance [1] - Measles outbreak is not considered a national emergency at this point [2]

Vaccine Schedule & Review - The CDC's advisory group is reviewing the vaccine schedule for young children, raising concerns due to the involvement of individuals with a history of promoting debunked theories about vaccine safety [2][3] - The vaccine approval process involves rigorous review by the FDA for safety and efficacy, followed by further evaluation by the CDC's panel of advisors, considering real-world evidence and potential side effects [5] - The US vaccine schedule is largely similar to those of major European nations, with variations in Hepatitis A and B vaccines based on prevalence, and differences in the number of individual shots administered [6] - Differences in vaccine schedules and the use of combination vaccines across countries reflect varying expert opinions on safety, risk, and cost [7][8] Public Health & Policy - Concerns exist that changes to the vaccine schedule could undermine public health efforts, particularly given past controversies surrounding vaccine safety [3] - Kennedy's appointment to a committee on the CDC raised concerns, especially after he allegedly broke promises regarding the committee's composition [9][10] - Kennedy dismissed all 17 standing members of a committee and replaced them with eight individuals, including some with non-traditional backgrounds and those who have echoed debunked claims about vaccines [11] - The complete removal of all committee members is unprecedented, raising questions about the direction of public health policy [13] Funding & Global Impact - The US will no longer fund a program it helped found to vaccinate children globally, raising serious concerns about the potential consequences [13]