Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s revamped CDC vaccine advisory panel narrowly approved Merck's Enflonsia (clesrovimab), a monoclonal antibody for RSV prevention in infants. The vote, following FDA approval, was contentious, with dissenting voices citing concerns about overmedicalization. The panel, criticized for its politically aligned members, will next consider the use of thimerosal in influenza vaccines, a long-standing anti-vaccine debate point. Despite the approval, concerns remain regarding the potential for delaying RSV infection to later, potentially less vulnerable, stages of infancy.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.