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 ...

Public Health Concerns - The former CDC director is expected to testify that the Health Secretary pressured her to endorse new vaccine recommendations before seeing scientific evidence [1] - The former CDC director refused to rubber-stamp unscientific directives and fire dedicated health experts [2] - The former CDC director was asked to fire long-standing health officials, which she felt uncomfortable doing [4] - The former CDC director was pressured to pre-approve recommendations about vaccines before even seeing the scientific evidence [5] - There are concerns that new recommendations approved by the Health Secretary's handpicked allies could negatively impact the availability of vaccines and insurance coverage [8] Political Implications - The hearing is a huge moment that has a lot of stakes for public health and politically because it will be closely watched to see whether Republicans still have confidence in the Health Secretary [5] - The Health Secretary fired every single person on the board and replaced them with handpicked allies after promising he would leave that board alone [8] - The industry is wondering whether Republicans are still going to be backing the Health Secretary after the hearing [9] Vaccine Advisory Committee Meeting - The AY's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is set to meet to review and vote on several key vaccines, including COVID and measles [6] - The hearing is set to approve potentially some new recommendations regarding a slew of vaccines from COVID to hepatitis B [7]

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]

Vaccination & Public Health - RFK Jr's stance is that vaccination has replaced infectious diseases with chronic diseases, fueling his anti-vaccine efforts [2][3] - Concerns raised that the current Secretary of Health holds a strong anti-vaccine agenda, potentially leading to dire consequences nationwide [13][14] - The Florida Surgeon General's decision to remove vaccine mandates is seen as a direct consequence of the Secretary of Health's views [14] - Over 1,000 current and former HHS civil servants have signed an open letter calling for the Secretary of Health's resignation due to concerns about endangering public health [15] Healthcare Policy & Funding - The $50 billion rural health transformation fund over six years is insufficient to offset the $87 billion in cuts impacting hospitals, especially those relying on Medicaid [5][6] - 79 medical societies have united to issue counter guidance, suggesting widespread disagreement with the current health policies [7] CDC & Scientific Integrity - Allegations that the former CDC director was pressured to pre-approve recommendations from a vaccine advisory panel with anti-vaccine rhetoric, leading to her dismissal [11] - The former CDC director was allegedly asked to fire talented federal employees without cause [12] Chronic Disease - The epidemic of chronic disease is a long-standing issue across administrations, not solely attributable to the current administration [9]

Public Health Concerns - The Florida surgeon general's actions regarding vaccines are considered scandalous and not grounded in evidence or public health principles, potentially driven by political aims [3][4] - Decreasing vaccination rates in Florida could lead to outbreaks of vaccine-preventable illnesses like measles and polio, impacting not only unvaccinated children but also partially vaccinated ones [5][7][8] - Florida's childhood vaccine coverage is flirting with a dangerous threshold, nearing the level where herd immunity is not achieved, approximately 92-94% [6][7] Impact of Leadership & Guidance - Lack of steady leadership from the CDC impacts public health guidance nationwide, creating confusion and prompting states to counter federal guidance [9][10] - Three West Coast states are banding together to counter the CDC's lack of leadership, potentially embracing medical society guidelines [10] Vaccine Safety & Effectiveness - Vaccines are safe and effective, with no changes in the underlying science supporting their use [11] - Strong bipartisan support exists for vaccine requirements for children in schools, with polling data indicating 80% support [10] Resources - HealthyChildorg, produced by the American Academy of Pediatrics, and Immunizeorg are recommended resources for information on vaccines [11][12]

Vaccine Mandates & Public Health - Florida is moving to eliminate all vaccine mandates for children attending public school, potentially becoming the first state to do so [2] - Public health experts condemn Florida's move, stating it will increase the risk of children getting sick and have community-wide ripple effects [5] - Vaccine exemptions for non-medical reasons are already increasing in Florida, and the new policy will exacerbate the problem [7][8] - Lowering vaccine coverage below a certain threshold (e g, 92% for polio) increases the risk of outbreaks [8] - 80% of Americans support vaccine mandates for children in daycare or school settings, indicating broad public support [10] Vaccine Safety & Scientific Consensus - There is no scientific evidence that basic childhood vaccines cause illness or have long-term negative effects like autism [13] - Other countries do not have similar debates at the governmental level because the science supports the safety and efficacy of vaccines [13] - The American Academy of Pediatrics provides clear, navigable information on childhood vaccines at healthychildren org [21] Healthcare System & Access - Pediatric bed capacity in children's hospitals across the US has decreased by 20% since 2008 [16] - Some parents are homeschooling their children due to concerns about the healthcare system and vaccine requirements [18]