health

Doctors face-palm as RFK Jr.’s top vaccine advisor questions need for polio shot

Kirk Milhoan’s comments come as federal vaccine policy slides to insignificance.

Doctors face-palm as RFK Jr.’s top vaccine advisor questions need for polio shot

TL;DR

  • Kirk Milhoan, chair of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, expressed skepticism about established science and made false claims about vaccine risks on a podcast.
  • Milhoan questioned the necessity of routine vaccinations, including those for measles and polio, and linked vaccines to allergies, asthma, and eczema.
  • The American Medical Association (AMA) strongly condemned Milhoan's statements, calling them a dangerous step backward and emphasizing that vaccines have saved millions of lives.
  • In light of differing recommendations, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released an updated vaccine schedule that is endorsed by multiple medical organizations and differs significantly from the CDC's recent overhaul.
  • The AAP stated that its recommendations are rooted in science and in the best interest of children's health, differing from the CDC's schedule which they believe departs from medical evidence.