Physicians concerned about vaccine policy

Three Wichita physicians contacted by MSSC criticized a federal policy announced last month restricting COVID vaccines to those 65 and older or who are at risk for severe illness.

“The new federal policy implies that only those groups are at risk of disease from COVID-19,” said Infectious Disease physician Thomas Moore, MD.

Adults younger than 65 who are otherwise healthy must consult with a healthcare provider before getting the shot. Pediatrician Gretchen Homan, MD, who is the immediate past president of the Kansas Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and former chair of the Immunize Kansas Coalition, said this creates an obstacle for patients.

“For preventive healthcare, the goals are to support patients and facilitate processes so they can more easily get what they need to stay healthy,” she said. “These changes go against that idea.”

Homan recommends physicians and patients follow guidelines issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics that all children between 6 and 23 months, as well as children over 2 at high risk of severe disease, receive COVID shots.

“The AAP makes guidelines according to scientific evidence and entirely based on what is the best way to protect kids and keep them healthy,” Homan said. She also recommended www.healthychildren.org as a resource for patients and families.

Infectious Disease physician Margaret Hagan, MD, applauded the AAP for making its own recommendations. However, she fears “we are approaching a point where each state will have its rules and requirements based on its political majority, and the children will be subject to the politics of the state.”

Florida, for example, announced plans this month to remove all vaccine mandates for schoolchildren. Meanwhile, several Democratic-controlled states issued their own vaccine recommendations.

Other federal actions include cutting mRNA research, replacing the members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, and firing or forcing out top scientists and staff at the CDC and the National Institutes of Health. Newly appointed ACIP members met Sept. 18-19 and voted to rescind the use of the MMRV combination vaccine in children under age 4 and to recommend that adults 65 and older consult with a healthcare provider before receiving the COVID shot.

Moore trained at the NIH and served six years as chair of the FDA’s former Anti-Infective Drugs Advisory Committee. He finds these actions agonizing to witness.

“These government agencies are led by honest, earnest and scientifically rigorous nerds like me who only have the best interests of the nation at heart,” he said.

Homan said that what concerns her most as a pediatrician is that children are not being prioritized.

“Vaccines work and are safe,” she said. “They support our children to grow, learn and thrive.