Today's hearing with fired CDC director Dr. . Susan Manarez and former CDC chief medical officer Dr. . Deborah Aie comes just one day before Secretary Kennedy's revamped and much scrutinized vaccine advisory panel is set to meet.Both Bernarez and Aie voiced concerns about the recommendations that may come from that panel during their testimony. While Republican Senator Bill Cassidy, who of course chairs that committee, went even further in comments to reporters after the hearing. If the vaccine advisory pan ...

I want to bring in Democratic member of the committee that you just heard there in that clip. Senator John Hickinlooper of Colorado. Quite the stark exchange there.Senator, what are your key takeaways from what you heard in that room today. Well, I think you had a very credible presentation of two devoted public servants who have given their lives to making our nation safer and healthier. Uh, and I thought that ending was very powerful.One of them is is worried that we're we're undermining and corroding the ...

Public Health & Policy Concerns - The hearing focuses on potential pressure to pursue anti-vaccine policies and defy scientific evidence, which could significantly impact public health [3] - Concerns exist regarding the Secretary of Health and Human Services potentially directing the approval of vaccines without scientific evidence and dismissing career officials responsible for vaccine policy [7][8] - The Secretary of Health and Human Services is accused of wanting data to support the claim that measles vaccine causes blindness and deafness, despite evidence to the contrary [11] - There are worries that the advisory committee on immunization practices will revisit critical vaccines for kids, potentially overstating risks, understating benefits, and cherry-picking evidence [13] - The vaccine committee has been replaced with known critics of vaccines and operates under decreased transparency with a willful refusal to follow established scientific and decision-making procedures [23] Political Implications - Senator Cassidy, who called for the hearing, faces a primary challenge and concerns that he might be stirring up controversy [4][5] - Senator Cassidy previously insisted that the Secretary of Health and Human Services not change ACIP recommendations or the way ACIP is constructed, but these agreements may have been violated [17] - There is a call for Senator Cassidy to gather other Republican senators to address the President regarding the Secretary of Health and Human Services' stance on vaccines [20] Vaccine Advisory Meeting - A key advisory board meeting on vaccine panels is approaching, making the hearing even more significant [4] - The advisory committee on immunization practices will be meeting and there's a lot of efforts to prebunk what we expect is going to happen there, which is a significant revisiting of critical vaccines for kids [13] - Senator Cassidy has called for that vaccine meeting the advisory meeting to be put on hold indefinitely because or if they meet for people not to follow their guidance [15]

Chairman Cassidy, Ranking Member Sanders, and distinguished members of this committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify before you again. My name is Susan Monares, and I am a microbiologist and immunologist. Exactly 12 weeks ago in this same room, I testified that if confirmed, I would lead the CDC to restore public trust, modernize public health infrastructure, and strengthen the AY's core mission of protecting Americans from infectious diseases and emerging threats.I was honored to be nominated by ...

Well, back home in Washington, former CDC director Susan Manarez is set to go before a Senate committee hearing later this morning. So, Manarz was abruptly fired. You might remember this, was by the Trump administration just last month after just a couple weeks on the job after she refused to resign under pressure.>> She is expected to testify that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. . pressured her to endorse new vaccine recommendations before seeing scientific evidence.Today's hearing kicks off a high ...

Threats to Science and Public Health - Scientists like Michael Man and Peter Hotz face organized attacks from climate deniers and vaccine skeptics, sometimes sanctioned by government officials [1][2] - These attacks aim to undermine public faith in science, which is crucial for addressing climate change, pandemics, and other crises [2][14] - Misinformation and disinformation, amplified by social media and AI, pose a significant threat to tackling global challenges [22] The Anti-Science Movement - Five forces drive the anti-science movement: propagandists, bureaucrats, and others who weaponize platforms to spread misinformation [14] - Organized misinformation led to an estimated 200,000 American deaths due to vaccine refusal [10][11] - Financial incentives, such as selling low-cost generics at inflated prices, motivate some to discredit science and scientists [11][12] Defending Science - Science relies on peer review, scientific meetings, and other established processes to refine and validate research [17][18][23] - Engaging with bad faith actors who reject scientific evidence is unproductive [18] - Media's "performative neutrality" or "false objectivity" can give undue weight to unscientific viewpoints [20][21]

There is more evidence that Americans strongly support vaccines despite health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr's attacks, which many health professionals say is perpetuating a health crisis in this country. The NBC News decision desk poll released just moments ago found that an overwhelming majority, 78% of Americans and 67% of Republicans support using vaccines for the prevention of diseases.Breaking it down by party, 93% of Democrats say they support vaccines as well. That's 72% of independents. Ahead of K ...

Vaccine Safety and Public Health - The report highlights a debate surrounding vaccine safety and efficacy, particularly concerning COVID-19 and measles vaccines [1][2][10] - The discussion involves contrasting viewpoints on vaccine mandates and individual choice, with concerns raised about potential dangers to public health, especially children, in the context of outbreaks [17][18][19] - The report mentions a measles epidemic with approximately 5,000 cases in the US and three deaths, including two children, marking the first child death since 2003 [18][19] RFK Jr.'s Positions and Controversies - RFK Jr.'s views on vaccines are under scrutiny, with concerns about his promotion of public health misinformation and potential conflicts of interest [3][5][9] - RFK Jr.'s removal of 17 members from the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) and replacement with seven individuals lacking expertise raises concerns about the credibility of the CDC's recommendations [12] - The report references a Wall Street Journal report suggesting HHS, under RFK Jr., may link autism to Tylenol use during pregnancy, contradicting existing studies [22][23][25] Impact on Public Trust and Vaccine Access - Confusion regarding vaccine schedules and access, particularly for vulnerable populations like pregnant women, is identified as a significant problem [7][8][9] - The report suggests a decline in trust towards traditional sources of vaccine information, such as the CDC and ACIP, leading to reliance on state consortiums and medical organizations [13][14][15] - The report mentions that a million Americans died from COVID [3]

Public Health & Vaccine Concerns - Robert F Kennedy Jr testified that the CDC had been lying to the American public during the pandemic and mRNA vaccines were dangerous [1][2] - Health agencies and experts globally affirm vaccines are safe and effective, saving countless lives [5] - Concerns raised about diminishing the credibility of the CDC and the US government in keeping kids safe [9] - Secretary Kennedy is accused of misrepresenting data and outright lying about conversations [39][40] - Secretary Kennedy is accused of stripping funding from mRNA vaccine research, potentially hindering future pandemic preparedness [45] Political & Governmental Reactions - Bipartisan backlash against Secretary Kennedy's statements and actions regarding vaccines and public health [1][5][40] - Democrats called for Secretary Kennedy's resignation, highlighting criticisms from Republicans [5][24] - The White House issued a statement supportive of Secretary Kennedy, focusing on fixing the "broken system" and addressing the chronic disease crisis [31] - Republican senators expressed concerns about Secretary Kennedy's leadership and its impact on public trust in vaccines [8][19][25] Healthcare Policy & Oversight - Secretary Kennedy struggled to answer questions about healthcare costs for seniors, including Medicare Part D and Part B premiums [50][51] - Concerns raised about policies approved by Secretary Kennedy causing chaos in the healthcare system and increasing costs for seniors [54][55] - Senator Cortez Masto highlighted the issue of prescription drug negotiation for Medicare, particularly regarding cancer drugs like Kruda [57][58][59] - Accusations that the Trump administration's policies are already causing harm to healthcare access and funding [72]

Public Health Crisis & Misinformation - Senator Ed Markey highlights the resignation of Susan Monz due to disagreement with an anti-vaccination panel led by Robert F Kennedy Jr [2] - Misinformation is spreading rapidly, potentially leading to a public health catastrophe with increased sickness and death [3][7][8] - The administration's handling of COVID-19, including a lack of knowledge about death tolls (12 million Americans) and vaccine effectiveness, is criticized [4] - Robert F Kennedy Jr's influence is seen as a threat, potentially spreading diseases across states due to anti-vaccination sentiments [6][9] Vaccine & Public Health Interventions - Vaccines and public health interventions significantly reduced childhood mortality, with a historical context of 18% of children under five dying in 1900 [5] - The denial of the importance of vaccines, particularly against diseases like measles, mumps, and rubella, is expected to lead to increased illness and fatalities [8][9] - The former CDC heads are warning about a healthcare catastrophe due to the denialism of Robert F Kennedy Jr [9] State-Level Responses - States like California, Washington, and Oregon are collaborating to provide science-based advice on vaccines [11] - Massachusetts is forming its own vaccine policy coalition, with Governor Healey committed to expert-led standards, emphasizing healthcare access [12][13][14] - Massachusetts, as a healthcare capital, aims to maintain access to vaccinations and healthcare despite potential cuts in Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act [14][15]