What’s Going on with the MMRV Vaccine?
Dr. Vin Gupta breaks down new CDC guidance on the MMRV vaccine, what it means for parents, and why vaccines are vital for kids’ health.
For decades, toddlers and children have received a standard, combination vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) aimed at preventing serious illness and death. Following multiple clinical studies, parents in 2005 had the option to vaccinate their children with another combination shot that protects against chickenpox, or varicella. A combined shot reduces the number of injections a child needs to get; and because both shots are made by the same manufacturer (Merck), it makes sense to combine them, according to Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
In September, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted 8-3 to recommend that children ages 4 and under receive the MMR and varicella vaccines separately due to a slightly higher risk of febrile seizures in young toddlers after the first dose. Febrile seizures are triggered by fever, not the vaccine itself, and are usually harmless (even though it can be scary for a child or caregiver), according to the Mayo Clinic.
While this recommendation will change little for families (85 percent already opt for separate vaccines), it takes away parental choice. The combined vaccine will also not be available through the Vaccine for Children program, which provides free and low-cost vaccines to half the nation’s kids.
The ACIP vote was made amid growing political tension around the proven safety and efficacy of vaccines. The medical establishment has long accused Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who oversees the CDC, which houses ACIP, as being a prominent source of medical misinformation, particularly regarding vaccines. The ACIP vote further sows that doubt and mistrust among parents who are unsure of the best ways to protect their children.
Vaccines are safe and effective, and can prevent serious illness or death. Parents should:
- Talk to their child’s pediatrician about the MMRV vaccine and see if they can still inoculate their child with the combination shot.
- If not, discuss the vaccination schedule for both MMV and chickenpox vaccines.
- Understand the importance of vaccines for preventing serious illness.
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Dr. Vin Gupta, MD, MPA, is a public health physician, professor, and health policy expert. As a Harvard-trained lung specialist, Vin has spent the past 15 years working worldwide to improve public health for organizations including the US Centers for Disease Control, the Institute for Health... See More
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