US Health Officials Review Safety of RSV Shots Amid Anti-Vaccine Pressure
A move by US health officials under Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr to re-examine the safety of RSV shots has raised concerns among experts. Despite no documented safety issues, the FDA's review could lead to restrictions on access to these life-saving vaccines.
RSV shots have been instrumental in reducing hospitalizations among infants in recent years. The vaccines are particularly effective when administered during pregnancy, with a 55-68% efficacy rate in preventing hospitalization in newborns. Babies who received the preventative antibody shots were 79-83% less likely to be hospitalized.
The decision by Kennedy's administration comes amidst pressure from anti-vaccine activists. Officials at the FDA told manufacturers of RSV treatments that their products are being reviewed due to safety concerns raised by these groups.
Dr. Elias Kass, a pediatrician specializing in naturopathy, praised the RSV shots as a groundbreaking tool for preventing complications. "The RSV shots were the first time we had any kind of tools to prevent these complications," he said. "To have a tool to prevent that is incredible."
However, experts worry that the review and potential restrictions on access could undermine public trust in vaccine safety. Kevin Ault, a former ACIP adviser and obstetrician/gynecologist, noted that there has been no new safety information released about RSV shots, despite concerns raised by anti-vaccine activists.
The move has also sparked concern among public health experts. "Decisions from the FDA could limit access to the shots, and without evidence, undermining the shots could affect public trust and confidence in vaccine safety," said Ault.
As the battle over vaccine safety continues, parents are already experiencing firsthand the devastating impact of RSV. The respiratory illness has been associated with developing asthma, and before widespread vaccination, 2% to 3% of all infants in the US were hospitalized for RSV.
A move by US health officials under Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr to re-examine the safety of RSV shots has raised concerns among experts. Despite no documented safety issues, the FDA's review could lead to restrictions on access to these life-saving vaccines.
RSV shots have been instrumental in reducing hospitalizations among infants in recent years. The vaccines are particularly effective when administered during pregnancy, with a 55-68% efficacy rate in preventing hospitalization in newborns. Babies who received the preventative antibody shots were 79-83% less likely to be hospitalized.
The decision by Kennedy's administration comes amidst pressure from anti-vaccine activists. Officials at the FDA told manufacturers of RSV treatments that their products are being reviewed due to safety concerns raised by these groups.
Dr. Elias Kass, a pediatrician specializing in naturopathy, praised the RSV shots as a groundbreaking tool for preventing complications. "The RSV shots were the first time we had any kind of tools to prevent these complications," he said. "To have a tool to prevent that is incredible."
However, experts worry that the review and potential restrictions on access could undermine public trust in vaccine safety. Kevin Ault, a former ACIP adviser and obstetrician/gynecologist, noted that there has been no new safety information released about RSV shots, despite concerns raised by anti-vaccine activists.
The move has also sparked concern among public health experts. "Decisions from the FDA could limit access to the shots, and without evidence, undermining the shots could affect public trust and confidence in vaccine safety," said Ault.
As the battle over vaccine safety continues, parents are already experiencing firsthand the devastating impact of RSV. The respiratory illness has been associated with developing asthma, and before widespread vaccination, 2% to 3% of all infants in the US were hospitalized for RSV.
I'm kinda worried about this whole thing... like, just 'cause some people are saying there's no new info on safety, doesn't mean it's not a good idea to re-examine 
. I get that we gotta trust the science and all, but also, think about how many lives have been saved with these vaccines already! 
We can't just ignore 'em because of some pressure from anti-vax groups... that's not gonna help anyone 
. And what if these restrictions on access do happen? That'd be super bad news for all the parents out there who rely on these vaccines to keep their little ones safe 
. We gotta find a balance between being cautious and not rolling back progress, you know? 
anyway i just hope that whatever the FDA decides its in the best interest of babies & their families 
They're re-examining the safety of RSV shots because some folks on the internet are freaking out? Like, I get it, no one wants their kid to be sick, but come on! The vaccines have been proven to reduce hospitalizations by 79-83%! 
It's not like they're testing anything new. They just need to make sure they're safe for pregnant women and babies. 
I mean, I'm all for keeping an eye on things, but do we really need a bunch of experts weighing in? Can't we just trust the science for once? 
We shouldn't be worried about what some anti-vaxxers think, we should be focused on keeping our kids healthy and safe. 
Let's keep things in perspective here! 
I mean, can you believe how simple yet challenging those games were back in the day? And have you ever noticed that some of those classic arcade games still hold up today, like Pac-Man or Donkey Kong? 
I mean, these RSV shots have literally saved countless lives of newborns and it's not like we're talking about some experimental vaccine here. The numbers are pretty clear - 79-83% less likely to be hospitalized? That's a huge difference.
What if the FDA restricts access because of some activist pressure? We need these tools ASAP 
. I'm so glad we have experts like Dr. Kass who know what they're talking about, but seriously, can't we just trust the science already? 
. I mean, come on, people, the data is clear: these shots are reducing hospitalizations by a significant margin 
. But no, instead of trusting the science, we're stuck in a cycle of doubt and misinformation 
Newsflash: RSV shots have been shown to reduce complications and hospitalizations... what more proof do you need?! 
this is gonna sound bad but i'm starting to think the anti-vaxxers have some point... idk if its worth risking public trust over a vaccine that's been proven to be super effective 
But at the same time, I'm like, if there's even a tiny chance that these shots might be causing harm, we gotta take a hard look, you know? 
Still, I get why the experts are worried about undermining public trust if we don't have solid evidence. It's a delicate balance, you know? 
i mean like they havnt done any new stuf on it but ppl ar like "oh no whats wrong w/ the shots?"?!? 
so idk bout u but i'm all 4 these rsv shots they're literally saving lives 
And I'm all about being open to new info, but with no new safety concerns released... it's like, what's the point of reviewing them again 
who rely on these vaccines for protection against RSV. I mean, we're talking about a vaccine that's been shown to be 79-83% effective in preventing hospitalizations among newborns... what more evidence do we need? 
. We need to trust the science 
behind these vaccines and not let misinformation scare us into limiting access to life-saving treatments 
. I mean, back in my day, we didn't have these fancy vaccines, but we still managed to survive and thrive 
. And don't even get me started on the fact that these shots can prevent complications and whatnot 
. Can we please just stick with what works? I mean, I know the FDA's got its concerns and all, but can't they see that these vaccines are a game-changer 
. But to me, the benefits far outweigh the risks 
. So, yeah, I'd like to see some common sense applied here 
. Can we please just focus on keepin' those little munchkins safe and healthy? 
The fact that RSV shots have been saving lives for years is a pretty strong case for keeping access open. We can't let fear of something that doesn't exist ruin our chances at keeping our little ones safe