Allan Wilke: Vaccine policy must be driven by science, not politics
"The science here has not changed. What has changed is who is making the decisions and whether they are listening to the experts," Dr. Allan Wilke writes.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The views and opinions expressed are those of the writer and not of Ottawa News Network.
I have provided routine childhood immunizations my entire career. They are one of the best ways my patients can protect themselves and their families.
While I have spent 45 years tracking the safety, effectiveness, and medical advancements in vaccines, I know not every one of my patients has done the same. An important part of my job is to answer their questions, share the research and studies, and make sure they feel confident in their decision to get vaccinated.
But lately, a critical partner of healthcare professionals has taken steps that will only hurt my patients.
In early January, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention under Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reduced the childhood immunization schedule from 17 diseases to 11.
This is a change that was not based on new scientific evidence, was not recommended by the healthcare community, and was not subject to the rigorous, evidence-based process that has guided vaccine policy for decades. This change was not necessary, and as a result, families across the country will pay the price.
The new CDC schedule moves vaccines like hepatitis B, rotavirus, and RSV (the leading cause of hospitalization in American infants) from routine recommendations to only "high-risk" groups or after consultation with a provider. As physicians, we will continue following the science, but public health experts know that federal guidance matters. It shapes what insurance covers, what schools require, and what information parents receive.
Parents want straight answers. They want to know: what does my child need to stay healthy? For decades, they could trust that the CDC's recommendations reflected the best available science.
That trust has now been undermined by political decisions. Not only do parents no longer have a unified recommendation backed by our federal health agencies, but leaders at these very agencies are casting doubt on the safety and effectiveness of vaccines without the science to back it up. And that confusion is dangerous because it will be Michigan’s children who pay the price.
Routine childhood vaccinations have prevented an estimated 508 million illnesses and over 1.1 million deaths among American children born between 1994 and 2023. Michigan's Chief Medical Executive, Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, has warned that declining vaccination rates could lead to a resurgence of diseases like polio. She's right to be concerned and parents should be too.
Parents deserve clarity from our public health institutions, and children deserve to grow up in communities without fear of preventable disease. And as a physician, we can’t protect children alone. Our elected leaders in Congress have a responsibility to their constituents to speak out. The changes at HHS are dangerous, but they do not need to go unchallenged.
Michigan deserves leaders who will stand up for vaccine access, including our next senator. The health and safety of our children are too important to stay silent for political points.
The science here has not changed. What has changed is who is making the decisions and whether they are listening to the experts. For Michigan families, we can and must do better.
— Dr. Allan Wilke is a geriatric and family medicine physician in Portage, Michigan, and has over 45 years of experience in the medical field.
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