Kennedy HHS Removes AAP and Others From Vaccine Workgroup
BY JEFF SKINNER
STATEWIDE - Just days after the American Academy of Pediatrics, or AAP, released its policy statement for July, the Department of Health and Human Services seemingly responded by removing them from future vaccine workgroups on policy and recommendations at the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
On July 28, the AAP issued their July policy statement, which among other items, strongly recommended all states across the country remove vaccine exemptions for children, putting children’s healthcare choices in the hands of the government, should children wish to attend public school or any childcare establishment. The move came after strong public scrutiny from the organization, which takes much of its guidance on childhood healthcare from organizations like WPATH, which were caught openly discussing the lack of scientific evidence supporting gender affirming care and potential human rights violations in its implementations, through a lack of informed consent. AAP maintains a symbiotic relationship with vaccine manufacturers, who fund the organization and provide standard revolving door opportunities for policy makers to return to the industry.
HHS, currently under the direction of Robert Kennedy, sent emails on Thursday, July 31, to the American Academy of Pediatrics as well as American Medical Association and the Infectious Diseases Society of America, that they would be removed from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, a policy vaccine workgroup that determines government policy on vaccines. According to ABC news, at least one email sent categorized the organizations as "special interest groups and therefore are expected to have a ‘bias’ based on their constituency and/or population that they represent.”
The move effectively marks a split between the government and private sectors involvement within regards to official government policy, which could present confusion among patients. While the move is noted as a strong starting point for alternative healthcare in the country, nothing has been done to remove financial incentives from doctors who recommend certain interventions like vaccines.
This paired with the continued close dynamic of the AAP and AMA with the training and schooling of medical practitioners across the country means that if HHS recommends anything in contrast with standard practice, it is unlikely to be adhered to by pediatricians across the country.
