Trump Administration Scrutinizes MMR Vaccine, Calls for Breaking It into Separate Shots
TL/DR –
The Trump administration is calling for separate measles, mumps, and rubella shots rather than the mixed MMR vaccine, despite the worst measles outbreak in decades. The deputy secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services, Jim O’Neill, is pushing for vaccine manufacturers to create safe, individual vaccines to replace the combined MMR shot. Critics argue that separating the vaccines would be unnecessarily complex and costly, result in fewer children receiving full vaccinations, and potentially expose infants to lethal diseases in new clinical trials.
MMR Vaccine Under Increased Scrutiny by Trump Administration
The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is undergoing increased review by the Trump administration, despite the significant measles outbreak in recent years. Deputy Secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Jim O’Neill, who also holds the position of Acting Director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), called for new vaccines to replace the current MMR shots, in a recent post on Twitter.
Proposed Break-Up of Combined MMR Vaccine
O’Neill suggested the development of safe monovalent vaccines to replace the combined MMR, effectively proposing to separate the MMR shot into three distinct vaccines. However, many health experts, including Jason Schwartz, an associate professor at the Yale School of Public Health, find this suggestion unnecessary and complicated, as combined vaccines have proven effective and safe through extensive research. Additionally, separating these vaccines would require more frequent visits to pediatricians, subsequently increasing the cost and complexity of child vaccination schedules.
The Current State of MMR Vaccination
Presently, vaccines such as the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTaP) shot are only manufactured as combined doses and cannot be separated. While individual vaccines for measles, mumps and rubella were licensed in the past, only the combined MMR shots are available for use in the US. Merck and GSK, the manufacturers of MMR shots in the US, have stated there is no scientific evidence to support separating the vaccines, with the combination vaccines playing a vital role in facilitating affordable and straightforward vaccination.
Future Considerations and Implications
Despite the objections of health professionals, there is still some uncertainty surrounding the future of MMR vaccinations. There was a recent meeting of the CDC’s advisory committee on immunization practices, though its outcome remains unknown. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, highlights concerns that the decisions being made are not grounded in scientific data, but rather, influenced by anti-vaccine sentiments. In his view, the question about breaking up MMR vaccines was addressed and resolved by the ACIP more than two decades ago.
—
Read More Health & Wellness News ; US News