USA Today In their first vote since appointed by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the eight members of a vaccine committee voted to recommend a shot that protects infants against respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV.
Clesrovimab, a monoclonal antibody created by pharmaceutical giant Merck, is recommended for use in infants younger than 8 months born during or entering their first RSV season.
Martin Kulldorff, who led the meeting June 26, recently served as an expert witness for plaintiffs who accused Merck of concealing the risks of Gardasil, a vaccine used to prevent cancer from human papillomavirus, or HPV.
The eight new members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices met for the first time June 25. Kennedy fired all 17 original members of the committee on June 9 and appointed its new members a few days later. Given the inclusion of vaccine skeptics, the approval comes as a surprise to close watchers of the panel.