The US is facing a growing concern over access to routine childhood immunizations. Pediatricians warn that anxious parents are worried about the future of vaccine coverage, especially for children covered by Medicaid. The issue gained momentum after Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime anti-vaccine activist, removed 17 members from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
Kennedy replaced the panelists with new members aligned with his views, prompting alarm among medical professionals and public health experts. The change has raised fears that millions of American families could soon have to pay out-of-pocket for shots now covered by their health insurance.
Medicaid covers 4 in 10 children in the US, making it a key target for concerns about vaccine access. If the new ACIP members withdraw support for certain vaccines and the CDC director agrees, consequences would be immediate. Insurance companies have not yet said how they would alter coverage, but such a move could open doors for private insurers to refuse to cover the vaccine.
Pediatricians warn that parents may face a future where they must choose between paying hundreds of dollars out-of-pocket or leaving their kids unprotected. The health insurance industry group AHIP has assured that health plans continue to follow federal requirements related to coverage of ACIP-recommended vaccines.
The change also prompts concerns about the impact on the budget law, which is expected to reduce Medicaid spending by $1 trillion over the next decade. States may have to make decisions about who is covered and which services are offered, potentially leading to cutbacks in eligibility or services.
As vaccination rates decline, diseases like measles and pertussis continue to spread. Pediatricians urge parents to get their children vaccinated as soon as they are eligible, but anxiety and uncertainty are creating a challenging environment for immunization.
The new ACIP members are expected to hold its next public meeting as soon as August. Meanwhile, the possibility of vaccine restrictions or changes in coverage is already affecting how parents approach immunization. The fate of childhood vaccines hangs in the balance, with the US pediatrician community watching anxiously as the situation unfolds.
Source: https://laist.com/brief/news/health/fearing-coverage-could-change-some-parents-rush-to-vaccinate-their-kids