CDC panel targets established vaccines

A key CDC vaccine advisory panel plans to review long-approved vaccines, as well as the cumulative effect of the shots given to children and adolescents, Jason Mast reports.

The announcement was made by Martin Kulldorff, a co-chair of the panel who along with all other members was recently hand-picked by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Kulldorff specifically mentioned the hepatitis B vaccine that is given to infants at birth and the combination measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox shot, both of which have been targeted by vaccine skeptics. Read more.

cdc

High wire act

While the CDC’s advisers were meeting, Susan Monarez, President Trump’s pick to lead the agency, was testifying before the Senate health committee at her confirmation hearing.

Monarez said that “vaccines save lives,” and the government should promote them.

Normally, that would be unremarkable, Andrew Joseph writes. But it’s a noteworthy statement given Kennedy’s skepticism of vaccines. It’s all the more interesting given that her confirmation hearing was chaired by a Republican senator who days earlier called for a delay of the advisory panel over concerns that its members aren’t up to snuff.

However, Monarez repeatedly avoided outright disagreeing with Kennedy’s policy positions and statements, Chelsea Cirruzzo reports.

“If I’m confirmed as CDC director, I will make sure that I’m focused on the mission at hand at CDC, but also as supportive as I can be to the secretary’s goals of making America healthier again,” Monarez said.

alternative medicine

Surfing the MAHA wave of profits

Kennedy is giving Big Wellness a national stage, to the excitement of purveyors and the consternation of some medical experts, Katie Palmer reports.

Kennedy’s boosterism combined with telehealth, an anti-establishment attitude, and slippery consumer advertising have helped popularize alternative products that used to be the purview of bodybuilders and longevity biohackers.

Read more for Katie’s rundown of Kennedy’s entourage of wellness product pushers and a step-by-step guide to creating demand for unproven products.

research funding

No more NIH grant terminations

NIH is halting further terminations of grants, writes Anil Oza in yet another scoop in the saga of NIH grants.

The directive is included in an internal email Anil obtained. It comes days after a federal judge ordered the restoration of more than 1,000 biomedical research grants, and just hours after the judge refused the administration’s request to pause his order.

fda

Communicating without communications staff

Lizzy Lawrence obtained a recording of a meeting between FDA leaders and staff. The upshot from outgoing drug regulator Jacqueline Corrigan-Curay: things are in flux.

Leaders told staff they haven’t figured out how to build back FDA’s communications, travel, human resources, and other functions after Kennedy fired many of those employees.

One employee asked how to respond to companies concerned about entrusting regulatory decisions to AI. The agency is coming up with a standard response, which has been submitted to the Office of Communication for review, the director of the drug center’s Office of Strategic Programs said, but “I don’t know what the plans are with that.” Read more.

congress

Short on time with Medicaid cuts unresolved

With days to go before Congress is set to leave town, lawmakers are still at odds over key Medicaid provisions in the tax bill, Daniel Payne reports.

Republicans in the House and Senate are still negotiating over restrictions to provider taxes and state-directed payments, as well as the size and scope of a rural health fund meant to make up for the deep cuts proposed in the bill.

Trump has asked lawmakers to deliver a bill to his desk by July 4, and Congress is scheduled to be out of town next week. To meet that deadline, they would have to pass the bill this week or stay in Washington through recess, which seems likely. Read more.

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What we’re reading

Childhood vaccination coverage was falling across the globe even before Covid, STAT
RFK Jr. says U.S. won’t donate to global vaccine effort, Politico
ADHD medicines linked to less impulsive behavior, crashes, and crime, STAT
Promise of victory over H.I.V. fades as U.S. withdraws support, The New York Times

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