Public Health System Concerns - Multiple CDC officials resigned due to political interference and budget cuts from the Trump administration [1] - Resignations highlight concerns about an unfolding emergency in the public health system [2] - The CDC relies on data for diagnosis, treatment, and outbreak response [6][7][8] - Public health work is often unnoticed until a major outbreak or pandemic [9] - Public health should be bipartisan, protecting all communities [11][12] Data and Infrastructure Challenges - Public health data systems are antiquated and underfunded [12] - The data office at CDC lost 30-35% of its staff, impacting system maintenance [13] - Radical transformation of public health systems is needed, requiring resources [15] - Over $35 billion has been invested in healthcare IT electronic health record systems [15] - Investment in public health data modernization started 5 years ago with less than 10% of the investment in electronic health records [15]

Public Health Impact - Approximately 50% of German adults are overweight [1] - This issue costs the German public health system between €27 billion and €90 billion annually [1] Societal Debate - The responsibility for this health problem is a subject of public debate in Germany [1]

Concerns Regarding CDC's Integrity - A former CDC official resigned, citing concerns that the CDC is being transformed into a "weaponized organization" driven by ideological goals rather than public health [3] - The resignation was partly due to the perceived loss of a "firewall between ideology and science" at the CDC, particularly with the departure of Susan Manares [4] - There are fears that science at the CDC will be "contaminated by ideology," especially in the vaccine space [5] - The official expressed concern that HHS policies do not reflect scientific reality [5] - The official believes there is an "irresistible force" making it impossible for the CDC to maintain the validity of its science against ideology, especially regarding vaccines [6] - There are concerns about the appointment of individuals lacking scientific experience to positions of influence at the CDC, potentially allowing bias to influence scientific recommendations [8] Vaccine-Related Concerns - The official fears that trust in the CDC, especially in the vaccine space, will erode due to attacks and misinformation [9][10] - The official suggests cross-checking CDC information with clinicians and professional organizations [10][11][12] - Concerns were raised about Secretary Kennedy pushing disputed claims linking vaccines to autism, which has been debunked by science [13] - Secretary Kennedy made inaccurate statements about mRNA vaccines, claiming they "didn't do anything in the pandemic" and are "the most dangerous vaccines known to humanity" [14] - There are concerns about potential retrofitting of data to support conclusions linking vaccines to autism and other diseases [15] - The official mentioned concerns about alum and thimerosal being targeted as harmful vaccine components despite scientific evidence to the contrary [16][17] Lack of Communication and Briefings - Secretary Kennedy has never been briefed by CDC experts on diseases, specifically vaccine-preventable diseases [22] - The official offered briefings on measles, H5N1 (bird flu), and vaccines in general, but these offers were not taken up [20][21] - The official questions who is briefing Secretary Kennedy if not the CDC experts [23] - Secretary Kennedy has made statements about vaccines that contradict the information provided by CDC experts [24] Optimism and Recommendations - The official hopes that the public can still trust the CDC but is concerned, especially regarding vaccines [9] - The official expresses optimism that the acting CDC director, Jim O'Neal, will engage with scientists and support science-based decision-making [27][28][29] - The official hopes that elected officials will take action to protect the health of America rather than focusing on ideologies [31][32]

Public Health Leadership & Agency Integrity - The CDC faces criticism due to the appointment of individuals lacking public health experience, raising concerns about adherence to scientific processes [2][3] - Experts express alarm over the dismantling of the CDC, citing staff purges, funding cuts, and hindered execution capabilities, mirroring the dismantling of USAD [4][5] - Resignations from key positions, such as the director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, highlight concerns about the disregard for expert feedback within the CDC's vaccine committee [25] - Concerns arise regarding the lack of transparency and scientific rigor in the information being disseminated about vaccines, with reports of manipulated data and predetermined conclusions [26][27] Vaccine Access & Public Confusion - CVS and Walgreens are restricting COVID-19 vaccine availability in multiple states, potentially requiring prescriptions, which complicates access for those in need [7] - The replacement of the advisory commission on immunization practices with vaccine skeptics contributes to public confusion and misinformation regarding vaccine availability, cost, and eligibility [8][9][10] - The erosion of trust in the CDC is attributed to actions such as removing career staff, cutting data and surveillance programs, and initially removing information pages related to HIV prep and COVID [12][13] Political Influence & Oversight - The appointment of RFK Jr and related actions are viewed as politically driven, raising questions about the influence of political agendas on public health decisions [19][20] - Congress's role in overseeing the CDC is questioned, particularly regarding the confirmation of RFK Jr, with some members expressing concerns but having seemingly limited influence [19][20][21][22][23][24] - Former President Trump's stance on vaccines is inconsistent, as he supports vaccine development while also allowing RFK Jr to implement controversial measures, creating political distractions [15][16][17][18]

Public Health Infrastructure & Funding - Public health infrastructure has been underfunded for decades, but saw progress in the last 5 years due to federal investments [4] - Losing up to 30% of staff and inability to execute contracts hinders public health effectiveness [5] - Continued investment in public health infrastructure is crucial at both national and jurisdictional levels [12] Data & Information - Data is vital for identifying and stopping outbreaks, such as COVID or foodborne illnesses [6] - Data modernization efforts aim to ensure rapid, seamless, and secure data flow to public health agencies [7] - Delays in data flow and information sharing to the public will occur if public health infrastructure is not invested in [12] Leadership & Impact - There is currently a leadership void in public health [10] - Turmoil in public health leadership impacts Americans by affecting the ability to identify and prevent outbreaks [11] - State and local entities are the front line of public health and can provide resources and information [13] Concerns & Warnings - CDC is in trouble, and public health is in trouble, requiring attention [8] - The nation may not be prepared for another outbreak due to resource constraints [8] - Losing CDC's capabilities hurts not only the nation but also state and local partners [9]

Leadership & Governance - HHS Secretary Kennedy's leadership is under scrutiny, with accusations of undermining science and promoting an "irrational, neolistic program to disintegrate the value of vaccines" [5][6] - The White House defends its stance by stating that ousted leaders were not aligned with the president's vision for public health [15][16] - Democratic senators and some Republicans are calling for RFK Jr's firing [15] - Jim O'Neal, a close ally of Secretary Kennedy and critical of the CDC during the COVID pandemic, has been appointed as acting CDC director [17][18] CDC Crisis & Impact - Top CDC officials resigned and staff walked out in protest of Secretary Kennedy's policies, particularly regarding vaccine recommendations [2][6] - The CDC is described as being in "despair" due to Secretary Kennedy's influence, with concerns that his actions will cause the death of children and other Americans [7][9] - Former CDC officials express serious concerns about the lack of data supporting changes to the COVID vaccine schedule and the inability to brief the secretary on scientific data [10][11] - The CDC is now viewed by some as a "propaganda arm" for RFK Junior's views, dismantling the vaccine ecosystem [12] - The situation is described as a "tragedy" that will make the United States and the entire world less safe [14] - Secretary Kennedy has reportedly canceled billions in research, done mass layoffs, purged vaccine panels, and relitigated debunked claims on vaccines and autism [19] Public Health Concerns - Medical professionals are developing alternative systems for vaccine schedules due to confusion and distrust in the CDC [22][23] - There are concerns that preventable deaths, hospitalizations, and severe disease will occur due to the chaos and misinformation surrounding vaccines [23][24]

When I call Kennedy a dangerous crank, I'm not saying that as an insult or as hyperbole, but honestly is the most economical way of describing the man's views. He's not a doctor. He has no public health background. He has no medical credentials whatsoever.He's environmental lawyer and crucially the scan of a very, very famous, wealthy, and influential political dynasty. And yet, here he is offering up wacky diagnosis of people he passes on the sidewalk or the airport. >> I know what a healthy child is suppo ...

[Applause] What makes CDC great are the people that make CDC up, the scientists, everyone that makes this family. You are the people that protect America. And America needs to see that you are the people that protect America.And we are going to be your loudest advocates. What makes us great at CDC is following the science. So, let's get the politics out of public health. [Applause] Objectivity and let the science lead us because that's how we get to the best decisions for public health.We need Congress to i ...

Leadership Changes at CDC - The President fired CDC Director Susan Manz less than a month into the job due to misalignment with the administration's agenda [1][2] - Four top CDC officials resigned, citing concerns about the weaponization of public health and misinformation about vaccines [4] - Former acting CDC director Richard Besser stated Manz was asked to fire her leadership team and endorse vaccine recommendations that contradicted science [2] Political Interference and Public Health Concerns - The White House defended the firing, stating officials should align with the President's agenda [3] - Concerns were raised about political interference and the spread of misinformation, potentially endangering public health [4][8][11] - A former CDC official stated America's public health is significantly in danger due to scientific integrity and political interference issues [11][12] Vaccine Policy and Access - Health Secretary Kennedy limited COVID vaccine approval to people 65 and older and those with underlying health conditions [8] - There are concerns about vaccine access due to potential insurance co-pays, with vaccine doses costing up to $140 [16] - Confusion exists regarding who should receive the COVID vaccine, potentially leading to fewer people getting vaccinated [14][17] Congressional Oversight and Reactions - Republican Senator Bill Cassidy called for oversight and urged the CDC to postpone a key vaccine meeting [4] - Senator Bernie Sanders called for an immediate bipartisan investigation into the situation [26] - There are questions about the effectiveness of congressional oversight and potential actions to address the issues at the CDC [51][52] Impact on CDC and Public Trust - The leadership changes and resignations are expected to disrupt the CDC's basic work [9] - Concerns exist about the impact on trust in information coming from the CDC [14] - A former CDC director described the situation as an all-out assault on public health, with potential dire impacts on people's lives [37][38]

CDC Staffers Walk Out: Ex-Agency Leader Says ‘Let’s Get The Politics Out Of Public Heath’https://t.co/m1uanHgLDn https://t.co/Xgbd209zTv ...