Q&A
Current work on childhood vaccination and potential federal changes
1:15:23
ยท
177 sec
Council Member Moya asks about current work on childhood vaccination and immunization schedules in New York City, and how DOHMH plans to respond to potential federal changes. Dr. Michelle Morse explains the current situation and concerns.
- The new HHS secretary has stated plans to reexamine the childhood vaccination schedule
- DOHMH would continue to issue recommendations based on evidence, even if federal guidance changes
- Concern about federal funding potentially being contingent on adhering to new schedules
- Decreasing rates of childhood vaccination in NYC, particularly for measles, are a significant concern
- The 2022 birth cohort has an 81% measles vaccination rate at 24 months, down from 94% in 2018
Francisco P. Moya
1:15:23
Great.
1:15:24
Thank you.
1:15:24
And sticking to that, the potential changes to childhood vaccination guidance.
1:15:30
Right?
1:15:32
What is if you can describe, like, what the current work on childhood vaccination and immunization schedules are in New York City, and how do you plan to respond to any changes to the childhood vaccination guidance and immunization schedule at the federal level?
Dr. Michelle Morse
1:15:50
Thank you for that question.
1:15:53
I am aware, that the new HHS secretary has stated that he's going to be reexamining the childhood vaccination schedule.
1:16:02
Again, I would encourage, any reexamination to be done with experts in the field who are the standard setters as well as the institutions like the American Academy of Pediatricians that have been the standard setters and the let's say evidence based North Star for vaccination for decades.
1:16:25
If there are changes in the federal guidance, again that is guidance.
1:16:31
We would still here in New York City be able to continue to issue recommendations based on our determination, use the Board of Health when we need it.
1:16:40
I think my big concern, and one concern that keeps me up at night, is that our federal funding could be contingent on adhering to a new childhood vaccination schedule that we potentially disagree with.
1:16:55
So if that scenario were to happen, I would definitely be relying on counsel, OMB, and the city, as well as our partners at the state to make sure that we can continue a program that is rigorous, science based, and effective in protecting the health of New Yorkers.
1:17:13
The final quick thing I want to say is even before all of these changes at the federal level, we were seeing decreases in the rate of childhood vaccination in New York City.
1:17:23
I am concerned about the risks of a measles outbreak here in New York City.
1:17:28
We had a measles outbreak in 2018, '20 '19 where six hundred and forty nine people developed measles unfortunately.
1:17:38
That was extremely concerning.
1:17:40
At that time, the 2018 birth cohort had a ninety four percent measles childhood vaccination rate at twenty four months for one vaccine.
1:17:50
Right now, our 2022 birth cohort, that vaccination rate is eighty four percent.
1:17:56
So that excuse me, eighty one percent.
1:17:58
So that is concerning that we have low rates of measles vaccination here in New York City, and certainly it is something that gives me concern and anxiety, the risk of measles vaccinations.
1:18:10
Regardless of what happens at the federal level, we need to push New Yorkers and their families to make sure that their children are on schedule for routine childhood vaccination.