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Tag: Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices

  • Legislative Roundup: Shapiro urges CDC Advisory Committee to protect access to vaccines

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    Sep. 21—Ahead of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) September meeting, the Shapiro Administration urged members of ACIP to take decisive, scientifically-informed action to protect vaccine access in Pennsylvania and ensure parents and individuals maintain the freedom to make health care decisions for themselves and their children.

    This is just the latest step Gov. Josh Shapiro has taken to ensure Pennsylvanians have the freedom to make their own health care choices, after he called on the State Board of Pharmacy earlier this month to protect COVID vaccine access for those most in need and provide clarity for Pennsylvanians, many of whom were left confused and frustrated after the Trump Administration upended COVID vaccine access across the country.

    At this week’s meeting, ACIP members will consider a wide range of immunization topics, including discussions on:

    —COVID-19 vaccines

    —Hepatitis B vaccine

    —Measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (MMRV) vaccine

    —Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

    The agenda is also likely to include recommendation votes for these vaccines as well as Vaccines for Children (VFC) program votes.

    If ACIP were to abandon its recommendations for safe and effective vaccines, it could become much harder for individuals who actively seek vaccinations to obtain them because the lack of a recommendation often translates into lack of insurance coverage, limited provider availability, and patient and provider confusion.

    In the public comment, the Shapiro Administration urges ACIP to recommend these vaccines to all populations indicated in prior ACIP recommendations in order to facilitate timely insurance coverage, minimize consumer and health care provider confusion, and ensure that individuals who wish to receive vaccines can do so without barriers.

    Clear, consistent recommendations help to align payers, providers, and public health systems and result in widely available access to vaccinations.

    In the letter, the Administration strongly urges ACIP to uphold its recommendations for vaccines that have demonstrated irrefutable public health benefit, in some cases for generations.

    It’s important to note that ACIP’s vaccine recommendations do not impose a vaccine mandate or requirement on Pennsylvanians in any way — rather, it protects their right to choose what’s best for them. However, if ACIP withdraws its recommendation, that could directly restrict choice.

    The governor said proper immunization is one of the most powerful and cost-effective tools for preventing serious illnesses, reducing hospitalizations, and protecting those who are most vulnerable to severe illness.

    Vaccines not only safeguard individuals but also strengthen the resilience of entire communities — keeping children in school, parents in the workforce, and health care systems from being overwhelmed during seasonal surges. Consistent and science-driven recommendations from ACIP are therefore essential to preserving both individual autonomy and collective well-being.

    September is ‘National Preparedness Month’

    The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) this week announced Shapiro’s proclamation that September 2025, is National Preparedness Month in the Commonwealth, and Sept. 19, 2025, was designated as Emergency Management Coordinators Day to recognize the important work that county and municipal coordinators perform daily to keep Pennsylvania communities safe and ready.

    “National Preparedness Month is a reminder that readiness is a responsibility at every level, from individuals and families to entire communities,” said PEMA Director Randy Padfield. “Our county and local emergency management coordinators are often the unsung heroes of community readiness. They work tirelessly, often behind the scenes and without recognition, to ensure plans are in place, resources are available, and residents are protected when disaster strikes. Their dedication is a cornerstone of keeping Pennsylvanians safe.”

    County and local officials across the Commonwealth are echoing the need for individual preparedness as we shine a spotlight on the topic for National Preparedness Month.

    The selfless service of your neighbors, the local and county EMC’s across Pennsylvania’s 2,560 municipalities and 67 counties is being recognized. These dedicated coordinators are required to be proficient in emergency management practices and take countless hours of training to do so.

    All Pennsylvanians are encouraged to visit Ready PA to learn how to be informed, be prepared, and be involved as a way to celebrate National Preparedness Month.

    Also, residents across the Commonwealth are encouraged to reach out to their local municipal and county officials to learn how they can use their skills to volunteer or support their emergency management programs to keep their communities safe and ready.

    State launches weekly fall foliage report

    Pennsylvania residents and visitors will get a new way to plan their autumn adventures this fall as the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) is launching a redesigned weekly fall foliage report on Sept. 25, featuring regional updates, photos, and expert tips to help people experience the Commonwealth’s vibrant seasonal landscapes.

    The updated report, posted every Thursday during peak foliage season on DCNR’s website, will feature a fresh design, dedicated pages for each week, and detailed information by region. DCNR experts will also be available to provide regional insights and answer questions throughout the fall.

    “Whether you’re camping in one of Pennsylvania’s 124 state parks, hiking through our 2.2 million acres of state forests, or taking a scenic drive, fall is one of the best times to experience the outdoors,” said DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. “This new report will give people the tools they need to plan trips and discover new activities across the Commonwealth.”

    Visitors can also explore Pennsylvania’s fall offerings through — Pennsylvania: The Great American Getaway — a statewide campaign highlighting public lands, scenic drives, festivals, pick-your-own farms, and family-friendly autumn activities.

    Fall foliage typically peaks in October, and DCNR’s weekly reports will feature updated photos and tips on the best places to see the colors. This season, visitors can also enjoy the newly reopened the Skywalk at Kinzua Bridge State Park in the Pennsylvania Wilds.

    Fall is a major driver of Pennsylvania’s tourism industry, which generated $83.9 billion in economic impact, supported more than 514,000 jobs, and welcomed 201.6 million visitors in 2024, according to a new Pennsylvania Tourism Office report. The industry grew by $7 billion from 2023 to 2024, creating 30,000 additional jobs across the Commonwealth.

    Walsh to host veterans recognition event

    State Rep. Jamie Walsh, R-Ross Township, will host a Veterans Recognition Event and Expo for Luzerne County veterans on Saturday, Nov. 1, in conjunction with Misericordia University.

    “Our veterans and their family members have sacrificed a great deal for our country, and this is one small way in which we can honor them,” said Rep. Walsh. “The vendors present that day will also have a lot of helpful information to share targeted specifically for veterans and their family members.”

    The event will include a recognition ceremony along with dozens of vendors offering programs and services for veterans and their family members. Light refreshments will be served.

    It will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Lemmond Theater and Insalaco Hall, Misericordia University, 301 Lake St., Dallas.

    Registration is required for this event, and veterans can each bring one guest.

    RSVP by Oct. 24 by calling 570-675-6000 or going to www.RepWalsh.com.

    Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.

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  • Ex-CDC director set to tell senators that RFK Jr. required political sign-off on decisions, called for firings without cause

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    (CNN) — Dr. Susan Monarez, former director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is expected to say in a Senate committee hearing this week that US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. put politics before public health when he required that all CDC policy and personnel decisions be cleared by political staff, according to her prepared testimony.

    Monarez is set to appear before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions in a hearing Wednesday.

    She was ousted last month, just 29 days into her tenure as CDC director, amid clashes with Kennedy over vaccine policies. She will be joined at the hearing by Dr. Debra Houry, who stepped down from her role as the CDC’s chief medical officer in protest after Monarez’s ouster.

    “I was fired for holding the line on scientific integrity,” Monarez says in her prepared testimony. “I had refused to commit to approving vaccine recommendations without evidence, fire career officials without cause, or resign.”

    HHS has not responded to CNN’s request for comment on Monarez’s claims.

    In her prepared testimony, Monarez offers new details about her brief tenure as CDC director, including saying Kennedy issued a directive that CDC policy and personnel decisions required prior approval from political staff — a break from the practice of past administrations.

    Bloomberg first reported on the prepared testimony Monday.

    Monarez also says that on August 2, she learned from media reports that Kennedy had removed liaison members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP — an influential group of outside experts who advise the agency on vaccinations – essentially being blindsided by the news.

    Then, “on the morning of August 25, Secretary Kennedy demanded two things of me that were inconsistent with my oath of office and the ethics required of a public official,” Monarez says. “He directed me to commit in advance to approving every ACIP recommendation regardless of the scientific evidence. He also directed me to dismiss career officials responsible for vaccine policy, without cause. He said if I was unwilling to do both, I should resign.”

    Monarez says she told Kennedy that she could not “pre-approve recommendations without reviewing the evidence” and that she had no basis to fire scientific experts.

    “On August 25, I could have stayed silent, agreed to demands, and no one would have known,” Monarez’s testimony says. “What the public would have seen were scientists dismissed without cause and vaccine protections quietly eroded — all under the authority of a Senate-confirmed Director with ‘unimpeachable credentials.’ I could have kept the office and the title. But I would have lost the one thing that cannot be replaced: my integrity.”

    Kennedy removed all 17 sitting members of ACIP in June. The committee now includes an entirely new group of experts, who are scheduled to meet Thursday and Friday to discuss Covid-19 vaccines as well as immunizations against hepatitis B and measles, mumps, rubella and varicella. Several of the new members have made unproven claims about vaccines, including one who said, without evidence, that Covid shots are causing “unprecedented levels of death and harm in young people.”

    Monarez says the new composition of the committee has “raised concerns from the medical community.”

    “There is real risk that recommendations could be made restricting access to vaccines for children and others in need without rigorous scientific review,” she says. “With no permanent CDC Director in place, those recommendations could be adopted. The stakes are not theoretical. We have already seen the largest measles outbreak in more than 30 years, which claimed the lives of two children. If vaccine protections are weakened, preventable diseases will return.”

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    Jacqueline Howard and CNN

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  • Tucker Carlson Incorrectly Claims CDC Mandating Kids Get Covid-19 Vaccine For School

    Tucker Carlson Incorrectly Claims CDC Mandating Kids Get Covid-19 Vaccine For School

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    Before you make a claim about what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is going to do, maybe, just maybe, you should look at what the CDC can and can’t actually do. On October 18, FOX News host Tucker Carlson claimed on a tweet that “The CDC is about to add the Covid vaccine to the childhood immunization schedule, which would make the vax mandatory for kids to attend school.” Yet, the CDC clearly states on its website that “State laws establish vaccination requirements for school children.” And the CDC, by the way, ain’t one of the 50 states in the U.S.

    On the tweet, Carlson included a video of himself from his FOX News show named after himself “Tucker Carlson Tonight” essentially making the same claim:

    As you can see in the video, Carlson began the segment with, “So here’s an amazing story that’s been effectively buried.” Whoa. Buried? By whom and for what reason? And buried in what? In cheese? Carlson did not really specify any of these but went on to say, “This week the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is expected to add the Covid-19 vax to the list of required childhood vaccines. If this happens, your children will not be able to attend school without taking the Covid shot.” The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is indeed meeting on October 18 and 19 in a virtual meeting that can be viewed on a webcast. The agenda does include a discussion about “Covid-19 vaccines in children.” The ACIP develops recommendations on the use vaccines that in turn are forwarded to CDC’s Director and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for approval. Once approved, these recommendations will be published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). The ACIP consists of public health, medical, and scientific experts external to the CDC.

    While Carlson may be a number of things, he is neither a medical, public health, or scientific expert nor a lawyer. A number of real medical doctors, scientists, and other relevant experts pointed out the clear problems with Carlson’s statement. For example, Peter Hotez, MD, PhD, Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine, wrote, “Actually, the CDC clearly says that ‘state laws establish vaccination requirements’ and Fox News knows this. Guessing just another antivaccine dog whistle for their ratings,” in the following tweet:

    In his tweet, Hotez thanked @doritmi, who is Dorit Reiss, LLB, PhD, a Professor of Law at the University Of California (UC) Hastings School of Law and expert in these law-ish kind of things, for alerting him to Carlson’s claim.

    Later in his tweet thread, Hotez offered something that Carlson didn’t include in his tweet, verifiable official sources supporting what he was saying: links to CDC websites. Once of these websites clearly indicates that, “State laws establish vaccination requirements for school children. These laws often apply not only to children attending public schools but also to those attending private schools and day care facilities.”

    So does that make what Carlson tweeted a “swing and a mis,” as in misinformation? Well, Tara C. Smith, PhD, a Professor of Epidemiology at the Kent State University College of Public Health, used the word “misinformation” in the following tweet about Carlson’s tweet:

    So with a number of real experts out there who have had many research publications on vaccines and infectious diseases, whom did Carlson bring on as a guest? Well, he gave some air time to Martin Makary, M.D., M.P.H., a Professor of Surgery at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and whose stated areas of expertise on the Johns Hopkins website are things like abdominal Surgery, advanced laparoscopy, bile duct surgery, pancreatic surgery, and various other pancreas and gall bladder related procedures.

    So did this air time turn out to be hot air time? Well, in the video, Makary made some pretty strong statements without providing much evidence to support them. For example, he asserted that “the CDC’s committee that’s voting, I mean, that it is essentially a kangaroo court, you have to be an official ‘card-carrying vaccine fanatic’ to be on that committee. If you are not then they are basically not going to accept that some vaccines are important and others lack the evidence to support broad distribution.”

    Wow. Presumably by “kangaroo court,” Makary didn’t mean a court of actual kangaroos, which would be weird and fascinating at the same time. Dictionary.com defines a “kangaroo court” as a “self-appointed or mob-operated tribunal that disregards or parodies existing principles of law or human rights, especially one in a frontier area or among criminals in prison.” Hmm, isn’t calling the ACIP a “kangaroo court” jumping like a kangaroo to conclusions about the ACIP without providing real supporting evidence? Makary also mentioned a German study without clearly describing the study, pointing out its strengths and limitations, or providing enough information so that viewers could find the study themselves.

    There certainly have been plenty of problems with the Covid-19 response from the CDC, the Biden Administration, and the Trump Administration. Throughout the pandemic, communications and policies have often been very inconsistent. For example, the CDC relaxed their face mask recommendations in the Spring of 2021 and then again in the Spring of 2022 despite scientific studies showing the value of face masks in preventing transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and other countries like Japan maintaining greater face mask use. In both cases, Covid-19 surges in the U.S. soon followed. Plus, in a number of situations, the Biden and Trump Administrations could have done more to push Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna to publicly release more of their Covid-19 vaccine data earlier.

    But suggesting that the CDC will be somehow making the Covid-19 vaccine mandatory for all kids to attend school around the U.S. and calling the ACIP a “kangaroo court” would be leaping way too far in a way that may court even more problems for our society. It could leave the very wrong impression that the CDC is somehow a dictatorial organization when the opposite may have been the case during the pandemic. Public health experts and scientists have raised concerns that the CDC has continued to bend to political pressure and prematurely relax Covid-19 precautions. mandating alling the

    If Carlson is really interested in seeing real science drive pubic health decision making then why not have a panel of real relevant scientists on his show. Such a panel could then provide real scientific facts that discount what Carlson has asserted. They could even say things like, “by the way, did you actually look at the CDC web site that says what the CDC can and can’t do. It’s on something called the Internet.”

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    Bruce Y. Lee, Senior Contributor

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