From LifeSiteNews

By Stephen Kokx

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) cited concerns about febrile seizures for children under 4.

An immunization committee whose members were selected by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is supporting a tweak to the childhood vaccination schedule.

Over the course of a two-day meeting last week, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to recommend against the combined measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) vaccine for children under the age of 4 due to concerns about febrile seizures.

Per the Daily Caller, the committee also voted “to recommend Hepatitis B testing for mothers but delayed an anticipated vote that would have postponed the first dose of Hepatitis B vaccine from the day of birth to one month of age. Instead, children ages 12-15 months would receive separate MMR and varicella shots.”

ACIP chairman Martin Kulldorff emphasizes that “every child will have access to be vaccinated against” measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (chickenpox).

ACIP voted to recommend standalone chickenpox vaccination in toddlers to reduce their risk of febrile seizures. pic.twitter.com/bXxP1d0hsg

— CDC (@CDCgov) September 19, 2025

The committee’s continued endorsement of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, however, comes just weeks after Kennedy argued for a link between the vaccine and autism.

“In 2002, CDC did an internal study of Fulton County, Georgia, children, and looked at children who got the MMR vaccine on time and compared those to kids who got them later. The data from that study showed that black boys who got the vaccine on time had a 260% greater chance of getting an autism diagnosis than children who waited,” he explained during a Senate hearing.

mRNA pioneer Dr. Robert Malone noted on social media platform X recently argued that there needs to be better guiding principles at the CDC.

“Someone has to start enforcing higher scientific standards on the CDC. It has been operating on autopilot without an on-site director for years. I guess it is going to be up to the ACIP members to start holding the CDC personnel to more rigorous scientific standards. Tiresome. Not our job, we are unpaid volunteers, but someone has to do it,” he said.

True story.
Someone has to start enforcing higher scientific standards on the CDC. It has been operating on autopilot without an on-site director for years. I guess it is going to be up to the ACIP members to start holding the CDC personnel to more rigorous scientific… https://t.co/coHi25eueq

— Robert W Malone, MD (@RWMaloneMD) September 22, 2025

Kennedy has taken an aggressive approach in his bid to “Make America Healthy Again.” In June, he removed all 17 members of the ACIP, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Medical freedom activists praised the move as an overdue ousting of Big Pharma’s influence on the committee while industry lobbyists expressed outrage.

Last month, Kennedy revoked emergency use authorization for the COVID-19 shot. In May, he removed the COVID shot from the CDC’s recommended schedule for healthy children (ages 6 months and older) and pregnant women. Relatedly, Florida’s surgeon general declared that the state would end all vaccine mandates for children.

In August, Kennedy announced he was “winding down” almost $500 million worth of mRNA vaccine projects and rejecting future exploration of the technology in favor of more conventional vaccines. He also denounced the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) for recommending vaccines created by its top corporate supporters without disclosing conflicts of interest.

Malone News

“We’re Going Bold to Tackle Autism”

Speaking from the Roosevelt Room today, President Donald J. Trump and U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. announced bold new actions to confront the nation’s autism spectrum disorder (ASD) epidemic, which has surged nearly 400% since 2000 and now affects 1 in 31 American children.

“For too long, families have been left without answers or options as autism rates have soared,” Secretary Kennedy said. “Today, we are taking bold action—opening the door to the first FDA-recognized treatment pathway, informing doctors and families about potential risks, and investing in groundbreaking research. We will follow the science, restore trust, and deliver hope to millions of American families.”

First, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will act on a potential treatment for speech-related deficits associated with ASD. The FDA today is publishing a Federal Register notice outlining a label update for leucovorin for cerebral folate deficiency, which has been associated with autism. This action establishes the first FDA-recognized therapeutic for children with cerebral folate deficiency and autistic symptoms.

The change will authorize treatment for children with ASD, with continued use if children show language, social, or adaptive gains. Following the label update for ASD, state Medicaid programs will be able to cover leucovorin for the indication of ASD, in partnership with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Finally, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will launch confirmatory trials and new research into the impact of leucovorin including safety studies.

While promising, it is important to note that leucovorin is not a cure for ASD and may only lead to improvements in speech-related deficits for a subset of children with ASD. Furthermore, this treatment must be administered under close medical supervision and in conjunction with other non-pharmacological approaches for children with ASD (e.g., behavioral therapy).

“As a physician, I have seen how devastating autism spectrum disorder can be for children and their families,” CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz said. “Today’s actions represent an unprecedented, comprehensive approach to deepen our understanding of the causes of autism, share what we know and don’t know based on current research, and ensure that every child has a better chance to thrive. By providing access to a drug to treat symptoms associated with autism, we are providing hope to families and providers who have until today had very limited options.”

Second, HHS will act on acetaminophen. Today, the FDA will issue a physician notice and begin the process to initiate a safety label change for acetaminophen (Tylenol and similar products). HHS will launch a nationwide public service campaign to inform families and protect public health.

The FDA is responding to prior clinical and laboratory studies that suggest a potential association between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. FDA also recognizes that there are contrary studies showing no association and that there can be risks for untreated fever in pregnancy, both for the mother and fetus.

Given the conflicting literature and lack of clear causal evidence, HHS wants to encourage clinicians to exercise their best judgment in use of acetaminophen for fevers and pain in pregnancy by prescribing the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration when treatment is required. Furthermore, FDA recognizes that acetaminophen is often the only tool for fevers and pain in pregnancy, as other alternatives (e.g., NSAIDs) have well documented adverse effects. FDA is partnering with manufacturers to update labeling and drive new research to safeguard mothers, children, and families.

“A growing body of evidence suggests that some children suffering from autism are folate deficient within the brain—a problem that can be treated with leucovorin,” FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary said. “Given the extent of the current autism epidemic, physicians should immediately have this treatment option available for candidate children. We are also sharing new information about the potential risks of acetaminophen so patients can make a more informed decision with their health care provider.”

Third, NIH today is announcing the recipients of the Autism Data Science Initiative (ADSI), funding 13 projects totaling more than $50 million to transform autism research. ADSI integrates large-scale biological, clinical, and behavioral data with an exposomics approach that examines environmental, nutritional, medical, and social factors alongside genetics.

Projects employ advanced methods such as machine learning and organoid models, address both children and adults across the lifespan, and establish replication hubs to ensure rigor. Each project includes community engagement to align research with the needs of autistic individuals, families, and clinicians.

“Millions of American families who care for autistic kids need scientists to apply gold standard science, expertise, and open minds to figure out how to help these kids,” NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya said. “With the Autism Data Science Initiative, NIH is harnessing cutting-edge science to uncover the root causes of autism. We are building knowledge that can improve lives and restore hope for families.”