Fiumara: Meeting on vaccine recommendations was disheartening

UMATILLA COUNTY – Umatilla County Public Health Director Joe Fiumara recently attended the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. ACIP is the group that provides recommendations to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“I found the meeting to be disheartening,” Fiumara reported to Board of Commissioners Chair Cindy Timmons. “There was evident confusion among committee members regarding the proposals they were voting on and the potential impact of their decisions.”

Fiumara said that confusion even resulted in votes of the second day of the meeting that altered their outcomes from the first day. Ultimately, he said two recommendations were issued that differ from previous guidelines.

One states that a person should consult with a healthcare professional before receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.

“My concern is that not all individuals have easy access to a primary care provider and it is unclear whether pharmacists will be willing or able to fulfill this consultation role,” he said.

Fiumara added that the impact might be mitigated due to the Western Health Alliance’s meeting before the ACIP gathering. It states that anyone 6 months or older can receive the vaccine if they so desire. The Western Health Alliance is setting guidelines regarding vaccinations for Oregon, Washington, California, and Hawaii.

The other change is the Measles, Mumps, Rubella Varicella (MMRV) vaccine for those under the age of 4. ACIP is no longer recommending that four-pronged injection. Previously, parents had the option to choose the MMRV vaccine to reduce the  number of shots a child received. Now the only option will be separate MMR and Varicella injections.

Fiumara added that approximately 80 percent of parents were already choosing having separate vaccinations instead of the combined shot.

File photo of UCo Health Director Joe Fiumara

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Elkhorn Media Group