The identical week the CDC introduced cuts to suggestions for vaccines, San Mateo County reported that an unvaccinated baby has died from influenza.
The kid, whose age and identify weren’t launched by authorities, is the second flu loss of life in San Mateo County this season, officers say. On Monday, Deputy Secretary of Well being and Human Companies Jim O’Neill signed a memorandum to not embody flu vaccines, amongst vaccines for 10 different ailments, to be on a really useful vaccination schedule.
Different modifications embody dropping a compulsory hepatitis B vaccine for newborns, in addition to figuring out bacterial meningitis, rotavirus and COVID-19 as really useful just for “excessive threat teams.” Whereas CDC suggestions received’t lead to lack of entry to such vaccines or insurance coverage gaps, public well being consultants and pediatricians warn that the cuts are prone to lead to confusion and a resurgence of ailments in colleges.
Modifications to vaccine necessities have lengthy been a speaking level of the Trump administration, in accordance with The Instances, however got here to nationwide consideration in December when Trump signed a presidential memorandum on childhood vaccines, instantly cited by the CDC as the rationale for the current vaccine suggestion modifications.
In a press release, the American Academy of Pediatrics referred to as the modifications “harmful.” In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom mentioned the state joined in September with Oregon, Washington and Hawaii to create unbiased vaccine tips.
Dr. Kismet Baldwin-Santana, well being officer for San Mateo County, shared in a press release that she’s “deeply saddened” by the loss and recommends individuals take preventative measures like vaccines to keep away from future deaths.
Influenza can result in issues and fatalities, particularly in individuals 65 years and older or beneath 5 with fever, cough and sore throat.
