An influential group of advisers for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention voted Thursday to narrow existing recommendations for the combined MMRV shot that protects against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox.The CDC vaccine advisory committee, called ACIP, voted 8-3 to narrow the recommendations.One person abstained from voting due to a conflict of interest.Another vote on dropping a longstanding recommendation to give all newborns a hepatitis B vaccination at birth was delayed until Friday.Regarding the MMRV vaccine, the advisers' vote means the combined shot, which contains measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (chickenpox) all in one shot, will no longer be recommended for younger kids getting their first dose around 12 months old.Instead, the committee recommended these kids should get two separate shots, one combining measles/mumps/rubella, and a second shot for chickenpox.
The combo shot will continue to be recommended as an option for a child's second dose, which is given between ages 4-6.The vote on the MMRV vaccine changes needs sign-off from the acting CDC director or the Health and Human Services secretary.MORE: Why doctors say the birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine is still necessaryHowever, even with that vote, the panel members seemed reluctant to do anything that could potentially restrict access for the roughly 50% of American children covered through the federally funded Vaccines For Children (VFC) program, voting against any changes. But the HHS says they still need to consider the outcome of the non-binding advisers' vote, saying in a statement: "HHS will examine all insurance coverage implications following today’s ACIP recommendation, prior to a final decision on adoption by the Acting Director.A recommendation from ACIP becomes part of the CDC immunization schedule if it is adopted by the CDC director." In simple terms, if the CDC accepts the group's recommendations, parents of kids who receive VFC vaccines, can still ch...