A Conversation w Dr. Kirk Milhoan, Chair of ACIP: On Sec. Kennedy, Trust & The Future of America’s Vaccines

Dr. Kirk Milhoan, chair of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), is our guest today. ACIP sets America’s vaccine policy, and since Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took the reins at HHS, it has been at the center of some of the most heated public health debates.

A pediatric cardiologist, Air Force veteran, and physician who has dedicated his life to helping sick children around the globe, we’ll ask Dr. Milhoan about his philosophy on vaccines, how he approaches vaccine policy for American children, and whether ACIP can operate independently of political pressure. We’ll also explore the massive changes that HHS has just been made to America's childhood vaccine schedule. Was ACIP consulted? And, finally, what does he see as his committee’s role in rebuilding public trust?

Hosts:

Brinda Adhikari

Tom Johnson

Maggie Bartlett

Dr. Mark Abdelmalek 

Guest:

Dr. Kirk Milhoan: pediatric cardiologist; chair of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices; co-founder For Hearts and Souls

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Got questions? Comments? We'd love to hear from you! Email us at questions@whyshoulditrustyou.net

Chapters

• 0:04 Intro and headines: Dr. Kirk Milhoan, the Chair of ACIP
• 1:37 Who is Dr. Kirk Milhoan?
• 2:59 Conversation Begins with Dr. Milhoan
• 4:44 Milhoan's Views on Vaccines
• 6:13 On MMR and the Polio Vaccine
• 14:31 Talking About Individual Autonomy
• 15:48 Risk of Vaccine versus Risk of Not Taking One
• 18:18 Discussing How Science Functions
• 20:53 On Vaccines Safety Testing
• 23:46 Myocarditis and Covid Vaccine
• 31:26 On Kennedy's Overhaul of the Vaccine Schedule
• 33:21 What is the Purpose of ACIP?
• 40:05 Vaccine Hesitation
• 42:52 What If People Ignore ACIP?
• 45:57 Milhoan On a Hot Mic
• 49:44 How Does the New ACIP Work?
• 54:06 Unintended Harm from ACIP Recommendations
• 56:17 On MMR Vaccine Being Best Prevention for Measles?
• 1:00:25 Exemptions
• 1:02:51 Trusting Vaccines
• 1:06:30 ACIP Changes to Recommendations
• 1:08:46 Will You Admit Being Wrong?
• 1:12:15 Dr. Milhoan's Experience Since ACIP
• 1:15:16 Thank you for joining us!