The Opinions

Kennedy’s Vaccine Panel Is a Calamity

7 snips
Sep 19, 2025
Join pediatric infectious disease specialist Paul A. Offit as he dives into the implications of the recent ACIP vaccine decisions. He discusses the controversial hepatitis B birth dose, shedding light on its skepticism and predicted policy shifts. Offit also tackles the delicate balance of MMRV and seizure risks, and fears surrounding politicized autism reports. Advocating for a 'Make America Healthy Again' strategy, he emphasizes the importance of public trust and citizen engagement in improving health policy.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
INSIGHT

Hepatitis B Risks Extend Beyond Birth Mothers

  • Hepatitis B infects infants from casual contact, not just perinatal or sexual exposure.
  • The birth dose protected infants and helped virtually eliminate pediatric hepatitis B within a decade.
INSIGHT

Why Hep B Birth Dose Attracts Scrutiny

  • The birth dose is targeted by skeptics because it feels intrusive right after delivery.
  • Opponents label it the "gateway" to vaccine hesitancy despite strong evidence of benefit.
ANECDOTE

Personal Memory Of Childhood Diseases

  • Paul Offit recalled growing up having measles, mumps, rubella and varicella before vaccines.
  • He contrasts that lived memory with younger doctors who rarely see these diseases.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app