Who should Americans listen to for guidance on vaccination?

1 week ago

Shifts successful vaccine guidance nether nan Trump management are leaving galore group confused astir seasonal shots. NPR's Ayesha Rascoe talks pinch Dr. Jeff Duchin of nan Vaccine Integrity Project.

AYESHA RASCOE, HOST:

The conflict complete vaccine guidance betwixt master aesculapian groups and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. spilled retired into nan unfastened past week. The CDC is nary longer recommending that patient children six months and older get a COVID vaccine. But nan American Academy of Pediatrics is sticking to their guidance that those children should get COVID shots. Kennedy attacked nan statement for contradicting nan CDC. Back successful June, Kennedy replaced everyone connected nan CDC's vaccine advisory panel. Some of nan caller members person made inaccurate claims astir nan information of vaccines. This leaves galore Americans wondering, whom should they perceive to for guidance connected vaccines?

Dr. Jeff Duchin joins maine now to talk astir this. He's an epidemiologist and portion of nan University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy. Doctor, convey you truthful overmuch for being here.

JEFF DUCHIN: Good morning, Ayesha.

RASCOE: What do you deliberation of nan changing guidance from nan CDC?

DUCHIN: Well, I thin to work together pinch nan AAP and galore of our different aesculapian master organizations and nationalist wellness organizations that person mislaid assurance and spot successful nan caller actions HHS has taken astatine CDC, which look to undermine nan antecedently evidence-based, transparent and nationalist process for processing vaccine recommendations for nan public. So astatine this point, I deliberation we're successful an unfortunate business wherever group are going to person to look to much than 1 spot to get nan accusation they need.

RASCOE: Doesn't that lead to a batch of confusion, because past really does nan mean American cognize whether they should get nan flu changeable aliases person their children vaccinated earlier starting school? Like, really do they cognize who to trust?

DUCHIN: Well, unfortunately, it does lead to confusion, and I deliberation nan first measurement is your wellness attraction provider. If you person a wellness attraction provider, typically, you person a trusting narration and tin person an unfastened dialogue. And that's, you know, nan first spot to spell to talk astir vaccines and whether you request them and really often you request them, etc. In addition, you know, nan situation will beryllium that location are a number of authoritative, reliable sources, specified arsenic nan American Academy of Pediatrics and nan American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, who's issued their guidance for vaccination of pregnant women pinch COVID-19 vaccine, arsenic good arsenic influenza and RSV vaccines, that besides differs from nan CDC guidance.

I conscionable want to emphasize, though, that it's not conscionable AAP and ACOG who person expressed these concerns. A ample number of aesculapian master organizations, including nan Infectious Disease Society of America, nan American College of Physicians, nan Pediatric Infectious Disease Society, nan American Public Health Association, nan Society for Maternal and Fetal Medicine and others, person each expressed these concerns. So I do promote group to return it earnestly and look towards these organizations for accusation earlier they make their vaccination decisions.

RASCOE: Are you concerned astir a increasing distrust successful nationalist wellness officials?

DUCHIN: Yes, very concerned astir that. You know, that spot is going to person to beryllium reearned by providing clear, transparent, evidence-based data, by having discussions astatine nan diligent level. The wellness attraction providers and parents and family members and organization members are going to person to reestablish spot done dialogue, and it starts by proceeding what people's concerns are. That's really important.

RASCOE: When group inquire you, Dr. Duchin, should I aliases should my kids get COVID aliases flu shots this fall, what are you telling them?

DUCHIN: Well, it depends connected their individual wellness position successful general. You know, adults 65 and older and those pinch underlying - each adults pinch underlying aesculapian conditions surely should get nan COVID shot. Everyone should get an influenza shot, beautiful much, who's eligible. Each year, influenza sends thousands of Americans into nan infirmary and kills a ample number, including children. Same pinch COVID. You know, nan - if you're astatine precocious consequence for COVID-19, you're astatine awesome consequence of being hospitalized, and immoderate adults successful peculiar are dying. COVID is highly superior successful pregnant women and tin impact their babies arsenic well, truthful pregnant women should beryllium vaccinated. But nan wide proposal is, you know, please cheque our aesculapian master associations, arsenic good arsenic talking pinch your wellness attraction provider, because everyone's situation's a small spot different.

RASCOE: That's Dr. Jeff Duchin pinch nan University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy. Thank you truthful overmuch for joining us.

DUCHIN: It was a pleasure. Thank you, Ayesha.

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