By The Defender Staff
Western States Split From CDC’s Updated Recommendations on Vaccines for Kids
Oregon Capital Chronicle reported:
Oregon and other western states will follow vaccine recommendations from a leading medical group instead of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention after the federal health agency on Monday changed longstanding pediatric vaccination recommendations.
The CDC cut back on recommendations for all children to receive vaccines such as hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rotavirus, meningococcal disease, influenza and COVID-19 — recommending the vaccines only for high-risk children. Jim O’Neill, acting director of the CDC, signed a memorandum accepting the changes.
Prior to 2025, the American Academy of Pediatrics endorsed CDC recommendations. That has since changed, and the academy has its own list of recommended child vaccines. For example, it recommends children receive vaccinations for hepatitis B upon birth to prevent an infected mother from passing on the virus to their child, followed by a second dose at two months old and a third dose between six and 18 months. It also recommends children between six and 23 months of age receive an initial series of COVID-19 vaccines.
Anti-Vax Discrimination, Behind-the-Counter Ivermectin Access Bill Filed in the House
A House Republican is charging back into a continuing fight over vaccines and doctors that created a huge rift during last year’s legislative session. Rep. Jeff Holcomb late last month filed HB 917, a proposal that takes aim at doctors who refuse to treat patients based on their vaccination schedule while also delving into other contentious health care treatment disputes. The administration of Gov. Ron DeSantis backed a similar bill last year championed by Department of Health Secretary and State Health Officer Dr. Joseph Ladapo, but the vaccine provision was stripped from the bill.
In an email to the Florida Phoenix, Holcomb said he “feels strongly” the bill will pass this year. “We saw during the COVID-19 pandemic that medical decisions were made without proper safety measures. We have a similar situation with the childhood vaccine schedule. The vaccines our children are mandated to have do not have sufficient safety studies. This was confirmed yesterday with CDC shrinking the recommended childhood vaccine schedule,” he said, referencing the decision Monday to shrink the recommended number of childhood vaccines from 17 to 11.
Holcomb’s bill doesn’t eliminate any vaccine mandate now in Florida statute or rule.
The bill does amend Florida’s Patient’s Bill of Rights and Responsibilities to make clear that a health care provider or facility cannot discriminate against a patient based upon the patient’s vaccination status.
The CDC Is Changing Its Vaccine Recommendations, but N.J. Says It’s Sticking to Science
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may have reduced the number of routine shots it recommends, but New Jersey has no plans to do so. On Monday, the CDC announced revisions to the U.S. childhood immunization schedule that cut the number of recommended shots from 17 to 11. The new guidance is controversial, but it isn’t expected to affect access in New Jersey.
Although certain vaccines are no longer recommended for all children, all vaccines covered by the previous immunization schedule will still be available to anyone who wants them through Affordable Care Act insurance plans and federal insurance programs, including Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program and the Vaccines for Children program, according to the federal government.
FDA Misses Another Deadline on Proposed Ban on Formaldehyde in Hair-Straightening Products
The US Food and Drug Administration has missed its latest deadline to propose banning formaldehyde and certain formaldehyde-releasing chemicals from hair-straightening products, often used by Black women. The proposed rule had an action date of the last day of December 2025, according to experts, which the agency lists as “12/00/25.” But the FDA says the rule is still in the works.
“FDA’s proposed rule, ‘Use of Formaldehyde and Formaldehyde-Releasing Chemicals as an Ingredient in Hair Smoothing Products or Hair Straightening Products’ continues to remain a priority for the Agency,” an agency spokesperson said in an email. “FDA may adjust the anticipated publication date of this and other proposed rules when appropriate.”
The agency added that it will provide “periodic updates” to deadlines or other projected through the FDA’s Unified Agenda, which typically updates semi-annually, in spring and fall.
Hundreds of Groups Urge Congress Not to Weaken Chemical Safety Law
Hundreds of environmental and health groups are urging Congress not to weaken the nation’s premier chemical safety law as Republican lawmakers signal a willingness to reopen the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).
For months, environmental and health advocates have braced for a congressional bill that would weaken health protections in favor of quicker regulatory risk assessments of chemicals. More than 250 groups recently sent a letter to congressional leaders pleading with them to reconsider any such action, which they say would be a “historic step backward in protecting Americans.”
“We understand that the chemical lobby is pressuring members to reopen TSCA and weaken the protections it provides,” the letter states. “Doing so would directly undermine public health protections and erase much of the progress our nation has made to shield people from dangerous chemicals.”
FDA Announces Sweeping Changes to Oversight of Wearables, AI-Enabled Devices
The Food and Drug Administration announced Tuesday that it will ease regulation of digital health products, following through on the Trump administration’s promises to deregulate artificial intelligence and promote its widespread use.
FDA Commissioner Marty Makary indicated that one of the agency’s priorities is fostering an environment that’s good for investors, and that FDA regulation needs to move “at Silicon Valley speed.” He announced the changes during an address to conference attendees at the Consumer Electronics Show.
The agency will soften its approach to the regulation of clinical decision support software, which include AI-enabled products that help doctors navigate diagnoses and treatment options. The agency previously considered products that delivered a single recommendation as FDA-regulated medical devices. Now, those products can enter the market without FDA review as long as they fulfill the agency’s other criteria for escaping regulation.
The post Western States Split From CDC’s Updated Recommendations on Vaccines for Kids + More appeared first on Children’s Health Defense.
IPAK-EDU is grateful to The Defender as this piece was originally published there and is included in this news feed with mutual agreement. Read More
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