CDC Scientists Address Concerns About Vaccine Safety and Efficacy

At the start of an unprecedented meeting of the vaccine committee of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, agency scientists faced questions and doubts about vaccine safety and efficacy. The meeting included discussions on Covid-19 illnesses, vaccine preservatives, and rare febrile seizures after measles vaccines.

Thursday's agenda includes presentations on thimerosal, a preservative in vaccines, and the risks of seizures after certain measles vaccines. The presentations will be given by a new committee chair and a former leader of an anti-vaccine organization.

CDC experts posted evidence reviews on these topics online, but one document was removed due to a lack of authorization. The posting of detailed briefing documents without author identification was unusual, indicating concerns among career scientists about the vaccine recommendation process.

The meeting highlighted skepticism about Covid-19 vaccine safety, with discussions on hospitalization rates for children and pregnant women. CDC data showed high hospitalization rates for young children, emphasizing the importance of vaccination.

Concerns were raised about potential biases in CDC studies on vaccine efficacy. The CDC defended its study designs, emphasizing the need for timely and cost-effective results to understand the impact of vaccination.

Anti-vaccine groups have criticized thimerosal, a preservative in vaccines, for causing neurodevelopmental issues. A presentation at the meeting suggested using thimerosal-free vaccines for pregnant women and children.

Another presentation focused on the risks of febrile seizures after certain measles vaccines. The CDC is reevaluating the recommendation for combination vaccines in young children.

According to the source: CNN.