ACIP votes on change to MMRV vaccine recommendation for children younger than 4

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The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted to recommend a policy change to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Varicella (MMRV) Vaccines

VOTE: The pediatric vaccine schedule should be updated to reflect the following change:

• For measles, mumps, rubella and varicella vaccines given before age 4 years, the combined MMRV vaccine is not recommended.
• Children in this age group should receive separate measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine and varicella vaccine (MMR+V).

Passed 8-3, with one abstention.

Ayes: James V. Pagano, MD; Kirk Milhoan, MD, PhD; Catherine Stein, PhD; Evelyn Griffin, MD; Raymond Pollack, MD, FACS, FRCS; Vicky Pebsworth, OP, PhD, RN; Retsef Levi, PhD; Chair Martin Kulldorff, PhD

Nays: Hillary Blackburn, PharmD, MBA; Joseph Hibbeln, MD, ABNP, CAPT USPHS (Ret.); Cody H. Meissner, MD

Abstaining: Robert Malone, MD, MS, due to preexisting legal agreements

Regarding the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program, the voting language said: “Approve the updated Vaccines for Children resolution for prevention of measles, mumps, rubella and varicella.”

Denied 7-1, three abstentions.

Nays: Milhoan, Blackburn, Stein, Griffin, Hibbeln, Pebsworth, Levi

Aye: Kulldorff

Abstaining: Pagano, Malone, Meissner

Consulting with staff, the ACIP members noted the distinction between the pediatric vaccine schedule and the VFC program. They said voting against the VFC change maintains the current recommendation, thus ensuring current coverage of the MMR+V vaccines under that program. Blackburn noted in her vote that she wanted to maintain that access. Meissner in his abstention said he did not want to create a discrepancy between children who get their vaccine from VFC and those who don’t.

ACIP had scheduled a Sept. 18 vote on the hepatitis B vaccine for infants and testing for all pregnant women. That vote was postponed to Sept. 19.