Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., known for his anti-vaccine stance, is aiming to reduce access to vital vaccines for children. He has declined to engage with scientists and subject-matter experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding evidence-based recommendations. This information was shared by former CDC officials during testimony before the Senate on Wednesday.
The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) summoned ex-CDC director Susan Monarez to address the turmoil that has plagued the public health agency since Kennedy’s appointment. Monarez is a microbiologist and a veteran federal employee who briefly led the CDC for just 29 days before her abrupt dismissal last month. She testified alongside Debra Houry, who served as the former chief medical officer for the CDC. Houry had been with the agency for a decade, spanning multiple administrations and directors, but resigned in protest of Kennedy’s leadership shortly after Monarez’s ousting.
Dismissal of Monarez
Monarez and Houry provided troubling yet predictable accounts during the hearing. Monarez revealed that her termination came after she declined Kennedy’s demands to pre-approve changes to the CDC’s childhood vaccine guidelines, regardless of scientific backing. Additionally, she stated that Kennedy insisted she terminate members of the CDC’s scientific leadership without justification, which she refused to do. Houry echoed these concerns, stating that she experienced censorship of scientific information, disregard for the agency’s experts, and dissemination of misinformation under Kennedy’s politics. Both women reaffirmed their statements while offering further insights during their testimonies.
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