Wedoany.com Report-Dec.2, On Monday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services appointed pediatric cardiologist Kirk Milhoan as the new chair of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on vaccine policies. Milhoan replaces Martin Kulldorff, who led the committee since June. Kulldorff is leaving the committee to take on the role of Chief Science Officer at the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, an office that provides policy advice to the Health Secretary.

In an interview, Milhoan emphasized that the leadership change would not bring a shift in direction for the committee. "Dr. Kulldorff got a very nice position of leadership in HHS, and I think we're going to continue on the same sort of direction he was going on. I don't see significant changes at all," he said.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been actively working to revise U.S. vaccination policy. This includes removing COVID-19 vaccination recommendations for pregnant women and children, limiting state vaccine mandates, and reducing funding for mRNA vaccine research. Recently, a top FDA official reported that at least 10 child deaths could be linked to COVID-19 vaccines and indicated that the agency would review and revise its vaccine approval processes.

Milhoan stated that the committee has not yet addressed the concerns raised by the FDA memo, and these issues have not been included in the committee's agenda so far. According to the draft agenda shared by the agency, the committee is scheduled to meet on Thursday to discuss hepatitis B vaccines and may vote on related policy proposals. In September, the committee had decided against a vote that would have delayed the administration of the first hepatitis B vaccine dose to newborns.

Earlier this year, Milhoan was appointed to the ACIP by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. after Kennedy dismissed all previous members and replaced them with his own nominees. Milhoan has been reported to have supported the use of hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin, two treatments that were unproven during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the new chair of the committee, Milhoan will oversee important vaccine policy discussions, with hepatitis B vaccines expected to be a key focus in the upcoming meeting.