Fired CDC director warns of backslide in US vaccine science under RFK Jr

Washington, DC – A former CDC director testified before a Senate committee that she was fired because she refused to categorically approve any vaccine advisory committee recommendations or fire career vaccine scientists.

Susan Monarez’ testimony before the Senate health committee comes just weeks after Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the head of Health and Human Services, fired her after only 29 days in office.

Additionally, it comes as concerns grow about Kennedy’s leadership, who has spearheaded the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, which critics claim has brought on misinformation and skepticism about vaccines.

According to Monarez, Kennedy instructed her to “commit to approuving every ACIP recommendation, regardless of the scientific evidence,” when she was speaking to lawmakers.

She added that he gave me the directive to fire career officials without cause who are in charge of vaccine policy. I responded that I had no way to fire scientific experts and that I could not pre-approve recommendations without examining the evidence.

Kennedy told her to resign if she could not, according to Monarez, adding that he had spoken with the White House on the subject several times. If “he believed he could not trust me,” Montarez said he had the right to fire her. He did it a few days later.

Under Kennedy’s leadership, the CDC, which is tasked with recommending vaccine recommendations and ensuring safety, Monarez framed her firing as part of a wider roll-back of scientific rigor throughout her testimony. The CDC director typically gives the panel’s recommendations independent approval.

In June, Kennedy gutted all 17 ACIP members, claiming that the panel was “plagued with persistent conflicts of interest” without providing any additional evidence. He has gradually replaced the panel with new members, including a number of individuals who have previously made unfounded claims about vaccines.

Kennedy defended his administration’s handling of the HHS and his personnel changes in a statement to the same Senate committee earlier this month, calling Monarez “untrustworthy” and making claims that she had lied.

According to him, “These adjustments were absolutely necessary to restore the agency’s status as the world’s gold standard public health agency.”

Later this week, the ACIP panel will convene to discuss the timing and dosage of vaccines for children, including those for COVID, hepatitis B, and measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MRMRV).

According to Monarez, Kennedy’s modifications’ risks weren’t “theoretical.”

There is a real risk that recommendations could be made to limit access to vaccines for children and others in need, according to what I observed while serving, she said.

These recommendations could be implemented without the presence of a permanent CDC director, she said.

Refused to act as a rubber stamp

The Republican-controlled committee’s refusal to allow Monarez to testify at all highlighted Kennedy’s public statements and HHS leadership.

Bill Cassidy, the Republican committee chair, opened the hearing by praising Monarez and posing questions about her motives for firing her. Cassidy is a physician and has previously been critical of Kennedy’s views.

He noted that Monarez’s firing was unusual because he was the first CDC director to have the nomination for the position by Trump and was the first to be required by a law passed in 2023. Following that, a 51-47 vote along party lines approved her.

He cited Monarez’s “unquestionable scientific credentials” by Kennedy himself and her role as an “incredible mother and dedicated public servant” by President Donald Trump.

“Like what occurred,” you ask? Were we unsuccessful? Was there a mistake we made? he stated.

Sanders, an independent who supports Democrats, had a less shrewd stance.

Sanders responded, “I believe the answer is fairly obvious.”

Dr. Monarez was fired because she disobeyed Secretary Kennedy’s dangerous policy, which significantly restricted the use of effective and safe vaccines that would threaten the lives of American citizens and people all over the world.

Debra Houry, a former CDC chief medical officer, resigned in protest of her dismissal, and Monarez. According to Houry, both said they had to respond to false information that was spread by Kennedy, including a claim that the MMRV vaccine “had fetal parts” in April.

Monarez claimed that Kennedy had directly told her that “CDC employees were killing children and they don’t care.”

Some Republicans accused Monarez of disobeying Kennedy’s MAHA mission by using the exchange to raise concerns about the current vaccine schedules for children.

Senator Rand Paul, an ophthalmologist, grilled Maneras on the scientific background of some vaccines, particularly the COVID and Hepatitis B vaccines for young people in one exchange.

“We need to regain public health trust. We must engage in discussion about the actual science in order to accomplish this,” Paul said.

She said she concurred with Monarez.

Source: Aljazeera