The head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's vaccine advisory committee questioned whether broad recommendations are necessary for vaccines that protect against polio and other infectious diseases.Dr.Kirk Milhoan, a pediatric cardiologist who was appointed chair of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) by Health Secretary Robert F.
Kennedy Jr.last month, said decisions on whether to receive a vaccine should be made by patients and doctors, not by mandate."We were concerned about mandates, and mandates have really harmed and increased hesitancy," Milhoan said.
"Does it [need] to be mandated for you to go to kindergarten, that these kids have every one of these vaccines that are recommended? That should be individually based.That is what I do as a doctor."Childhood vaccination rates fall as exemptions increase, CDC data showsMilhoan made the comments while appearing on the podcast "Why Should I Trust You?" hosted by ABC News medical contributor and investigative reporter Dr.
Mark Abdelmalek, Tom Johnson and Brinda Adhikari.Vaccines such as the polio and measles vaccines have been hailed by public health officials as immense successes, preventing serious disease and death among millions worldwide.Both wild poliovirus and measles were eliminated in the U.S.
decades ago due to mass vaccination campaigns.However, during the wide-ranging and candid interview, Milhoan said the ACIP is concerned with "returning individual autonomy" to restore trust in public health.Milhoan questioned if Americans need to receive the polio vaccine anymore, arguing that the U.S.is in a different place compared to the 1950s, when the first polio vaccine was distributed.Committee member, Dr.
Kirk Milhoan, speaks during a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices at the CDC, Sept.18, 2025, in Chamblee, Ga.Brynn Anderson/APCurrently, the CDC recommends that children receive four doses of the polio vaccine: at two months old, four mont...