RFK Jr. allegedly pressured the CDC director to a point of termination, claims former CDC leader.
The Senate held a hearing yesterday to discuss the dismissal of Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, a former director at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), who was a Trump appointee. NPR's Selena Simmons-Duffin attended the hearing where Dr. Hanna-Attisha testified about her dismissal.
According to Dr. Hanna-Attisha, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pressured her to rubber stamp vaccine policies without reviewing scientific evidence. This allegation was echoed by Dr. Susan Monarez, a career official at the CDC, who was directed by Kennedy to dismiss other CDC officials responsible for vaccine policy without cause.
Senator Bill Cassidy, a physician by profession and the Republican who chairs the Senate health committee, opened the hearing with a question about the dismissal of Dr. Hanna-Attisha. Senator Cassidy expressed concerns about Kennedy's history of anti-vaccine activism in the past.
The controversy deepened when it was revealed that Kennedy had also pressured Dr. Susan Monarez to rubber stamp vaccine policies without reviewing scientific evidence. This led to her dismissal following her refusal to comply with his demands.
Kennedy's actions were further scrutinised when he made false accusations about CDC employees during a meeting and called the CDC the most corrupt federal agency in the world.
The hearing also addressed Kennedy's plans for changes to the childhood vaccine schedule. Kennedy stated that the changes would be implemented starting in September and demanded that Dr. Monarez be on board with the changes. However, Dr. Monarez was not in agreement with the proposed changes.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services denied that changes to the childhood vaccine schedule have already been decided. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the current chief medical officer at the CDC, announced her resignation amidst the controversy.
Senator Cassidy, despite his concerns about Kennedy's history of anti-vaccine activism, still cast a key vote to confirm him as Health Secretary. The implications of Kennedy's actions and their impact on vaccine policies continue to be a topic of discussion and concern.
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