HHS Secretary RFK Jr.’s efforts could affect vaccines

A version of this text first appeared in CNBC’s Healthy Returns newsletter, which brings the most recent health-care news straight to your inbox. Subscribe here to receive future editions.

It has been lower than two weeks since Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a distinguished vaccine skeptic, was confirmed to steer the Department of Health and Human Services. 

But he’s already making moves that would affect immunization uptake and policy within the U.S. HHS didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment on those efforts. 

That is not much of a surprise. Kennedy has long made misleading and false statements in regards to the safety of shots. He has claimed they’re linked to autism despite a long time of studies that debunk that association. 

Kennedy can be the founding father of the nonprofit Kid’s Health Defense, essentially the most well-funded anti-vaccine organization within the U.S. In a government ethics agreement in January, he said he stopped serving as chairman or chief legal counsel for the organization as of December.

Kennedy tried to distance himself from those views during his Senate confirmation hearings, claiming that he is not “anti-vaccine” and would do nothing to make it “difficult or discourage people from taking” shots for measles and polio. 

Sen. Bill Cassidy from Louisiana, who was considered considered one of the largest Republican swing votes, eventually backed Kennedy’s nomination after receiving assurances that the Trump administration wouldn’t dismantle the nation’s vaccine safety systems or alter government recommendations for immunizations.

But his track record up to now suggests otherwise. 

Here’s what has reportedly happened with vaccines under Kennedy up to now: 

• Childhood vaccination schedule review – In his first speech to staff, Kennedy said last week that he’ll review the childhood vaccine schedule despite earlier pledges to not accomplish that. He promised that a recent “Make America Healthy Again” commission would investigate vaccines, pesticides and antidepressants to see in the event that they have contributed to an increase of chronic illness within the U.S. Trump formed that commission last week in an executive order. Though Kennedy did in a roundabout way call for changes to the vaccination schedule, he made it clear that the committee will investigate issues, including childhood vaccinations, that “were formerly taboo or insufficiently scrutinized.”

• CDC vaccine promotional campaign halted – The CDC was ordered to shelve some promotions it created for a wide range of vaccines, including a campaign touting seasonal flu shots, in line with multiple outlets. HHS’ assistant secretary for public affairs informed the CDC that Kennedy wanted advertisements that promote the thought of “informed consent” in vaccine decision-making as a substitute, STAT News reported last week. Informed consent refers to a process through which patients are given vital information, including possible risks and advantages, a few medical procedure or treatment. It comes amid a brutal flu season within the U.S. that remains to be ongoing. 

• Plans to remove some CDC, FDA advisors – Kennedy is preparing to remove members of the external committees that advise the Food and Drug Administration and CDC on vaccine approvals and other key public health decisions, Politico reported last week. He reportedly plans to switch members who he perceives to have conflicts of interest, though it’s unclear how many individuals will probably be outed or when. That is a part of a broader effort to limit what he has criticized as undue pharmaceutical industry influence over the federal government’s health agencies. Kennedy will likely goal the CDC’s advisory committee on immunization practices – or ACIP – which plays a critical role in setting U.S. vaccine policy. He can be examining other outside panels, equivalent to those who advise the FDA. 

• First CDC advisory panel meeting postponed – The primary ACIP meeting since Kennedy was sworn in has been postponed to “accommodate public comment prematurely of the meeting,” in line with several news outlets. The panel of advisors meets thrice a yr to weigh the professionals and cons of newly approved or updated shots. The ACIP helps the CDC make recommendations for states and insurers on what vaccines to cover, including childhood immunizations. It’s unclear if Kennedy was directly behind the delay of the meeting, which was originally scheduled for Wednesday through Friday. HHS officials didn’t share when it can be rescheduled. 

We’ll proceed to follow the fate of the nation’s approach to vaccinations. Stay tuned for our updates. 

Be at liberty to send any suggestions, suggestions, story ideas and data to Annika at annikakim.constantino@nbcuni.com.

Oracle on Monday announced it has formally submitted its application to hitch a recent federally-backed medical network called the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement, or TEFCA. 

The network goals to standardize the legal and technical requirements for sharing patients’ data, which is a notoriously complex process. Health-care data is siloed and guarded by laws like Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA, so exchanging this information on a big scale is not any easy task. 

TEFCA was launched in late 2023 and falls under the purview of an office within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Oracle had previously announced its intention to hitch TEFCA in October. 

Oracle acquired the medical records giant Cerner for about $28 billion in 2022, and the corporate has been working to revamp its technology lately. Joining TEFCA is a “natural next step” for Oracle, Seema Verma, executive vice chairman of Oracle Health and Life Sciences, told CNBC in an October interview.

“This builds on our long-standing leadership in driving interoperability to extend industry-wide efficiency and to assist ensure patients retain control over their very own data,” Verma said in a press release Monday. 

The primary groups that take part in health-data exchanges through TEFCA are called qualified health information networks, or QHINs. These networks need to get approved and their participation is voluntary.

As of Tuesday, eight organizations, including Oracle competitor Epic Systems, have been recognized as designated QHINs for TEFCA exchange. 

If Oracle is approved to hitch TEFCA, it will help expand the exchange’s reach and will further bolster its credibility. Oracle’s network would support the sharing of information like X-Rays and MRIs that will not be traditionally available through other exchanges, the corporate added. 

It is not immediately clear if or when Oracle’s application will probably be approved.

Be at liberty to send any suggestions, suggestions, story ideas and data to Ashley at ashley.capoot@nbcuni.com.