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Childhood Vaccine Injuries Group to Meet Under Kennedy Pressure
A little-known committee that suggests modifications to the U.S. vaccine injury compensation program is scheduled to meet in late December, after Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. indicated he wants changes.
The Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines will convene Dec. 29, its first gathering in more than a year, according to a notice posted on the Federal Register. No votes are expected to take place, the notice said.
The group tracks the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, which shields companies from most lawsuits related to harm caused by immunizations. It maintains a fund to pay people who have serious complications, and has distributed about $5 billion since 1988.
Got Milk? Congress Passes Bill Returning Whole Milk to Schools
The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation Monday that would allow schools the option of serving whole milk, 2%, 1% and flavored or plain skim milk as part of school meals. The House passed the measure a month after the Senate approved the legislation, which overturns 2012 rules that allowed only fat-free or 1% milk to be served in schools.
The action by Congress came as U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer visited a dairy farm Monday in Columbia County to give his support to the measure that he and other lawmakers said has hurt upstate dairy farms. His office said the visit also marked the completion of his 27th annual tour of New York’s 62 counties.
“It is time to bring whole milk back to school lunches. Milk is one of the best and healthiest options to give students the nutrition they need to learn and grow, and it has been restricted in our schools, hurting upstate dairy farmers, for far too long,” Schumer said. “I was proud to support the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act in the Senate to bring more milk options to school cafeterias across America.” Schumer said he was also at the event with dairy farmers to call on the House to pass the bipartisan legislation, which happened hours later.
Dr. Harvey Risch Appointed Chairman of President Trump’s Cancer Panel
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported:
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services today announced the appointment of Harvey Risch, M.D., Ph.D., as chairman of the President’s Cancer Panel. The panel, part of the National Institutes of Health’s National Cancer Institute, is charged with monitoring the development and execution of the activities of the National Cancer Program and reporting to the president on progress, efficacy, and opportunities for improvement in the national effort against cancer. The Panel was established by law through the National Cancer Act of 1971.
Dr. Risch is Professor Emeritus and Senior Research Scientist in and Senior Research Scientist in Epidemiology at the Yale School of Public Health and Yale School of Medicine. As chairman of the President’s Cancer Panel, Dr. Risch plans to accelerate American innovations in cancer prevention and increase the public’s awareness of reproductive, dietary, occupational, environmental, and immune system-related factors that influence cancer etiology.
“Dr. Risch brings the expertise and resolve needed to identify the root causes of cancer in America,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “He will push this work forward, confront the factors driving cancer rates, and provide the public with science they can trust. This appointment strengthens our national fight against cancer and reflects our duty to protect Americans’ health with transparency, independence, and rigorous inquiry.”
Trump Signs Order Labeling Fentanyl ‘Weapon of Mass Destruction’
President Trump on Monday signed an executive order to designate fentanyl as a “weapon of mass destruction,” dramatically escalating his fight against the drug. Trump hosted an event in the Oval Office to award the Mexican Border Defense Medal to members of the military who were dispatched to assist with efforts to crackdown on crossings at the southern border. As part of the event, he signed the order as he warned against the “scourge” of fentanyl.
“No bomb does what this is doing,” Trump said, attributing 200,000 to 300,000 deaths each year to the drug. The executive order signing gives Trump administration officials additional tools to target countries, cartels and other organizations that are connected to the manufacturing and distribution of fentanyl. The order marks the latest instance of how Trump has targeted fentanyl since taking office.
FDA Says It May Relax Warning Label Rule for Dietary Supplements
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering a rule change that would cut back on how often dietary supplement warnings must appear on packaging, a move experts say could make them easier to miss. Unlike prescription drugs, the FDA doesn’t review dietary supplements for safety and effectiveness before they hit the market.
A 1994 federal law requires supplement companies to include a disclaimer when they make health claims like “supports immune health” or “promotes heart health” or better memory. According to the law, next to promises about benefits, the packaging must display in boldface type: “This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.”
