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Ex-CDC Director Says RFK Jr. Pressured Her to Back Vaccine Schedule Overhaul, Cites Political Meddling

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At a tense Senate hearing on Wednesday, former CDC Director Susan Monarez alleged that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pressured her to support a revision of the childhood vaccine schedule — a plan she says lacked scientific basis and led to her removal.

Monarez told members of the Senate Health Committee that Kennedy insisted changes to the immunization schedule would take effect in September and demanded her support without providing any data. “He said I needed to be on board,” Monarez recounted under questioning from Committee Chair Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.).

The testimony came as part of a broader inquiry into upheaval within the CDC and Kennedy’s controversial role in shaping the agency’s direction. Cassidy reminded the room that Kennedy had promised not to alter the vaccine schedule when he was nominated in January.

Monarez described Kennedy’s demeanor during their exchange as “extremely animated” and said he launched into a tirade, accusing CDC employees of endangering children.

“He said that CDC employees were killing children, and they don’t care. He said that CDC employees were bought by the pharmaceutical industry. He said the CDC forced people to wear masks and social distance like a dictatorship. He said during the Covid outbreak, the CDC told hospitals to turn away sick Covid patients until they had blue lips before allowing them to get treatment. Those statements are not true.”

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In an emotional moment, Monarez also described the lingering trauma at the CDC following an August shooting in which a gunman, who reportedly blamed vaccines for his health issues, opened fire on the agency’s Atlanta headquarters, killing a police officer.

“Each bullet was meant for a person, and each of my staff were very traumatized afterwards,” she said, adding that staff became so afraid they removed their names from vaccine-related studies and refused to speak publicly on the topic.

The hearing also featured testimony from Dr. Deb Houry, the CDC’s former chief medical officer, who recently resigned in protest alongside two other senior officials. Houry accused Kennedy of compromising the agency’s scientific independence, saying he “censored CDC science, politicized its processes and stripped leaders of independence.”

“I could not, in good conscience, remain under those conditions,” she added.

Both Monarez and Houry pointed to increasing political interference in areas traditionally governed by science. They specifically named Stuart Burns, a former GOP staffer and Kennedy aide with known ties to the anti-vaccine movement, as someone playing a central role in determining which vaccines are recommended by federal advisory panels.

Monarez further testified that Kennedy had asked her to meet with Aaron Siri, an anti-vaccine attorney and longtime associate of Kennedy who represented him during his failed presidential run. Siri has made a name and fortune challenging vaccine mandates and representing clients claiming vaccine injury. He once filed a petition to revoke approval for a polio vaccine.

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The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the federal panel responsible for vaccine guidance, is scheduled to meet on Thursday to discuss the childhood immunization schedule. Kennedy removed previous members of the committee in June and replaced them with individuals widely viewed as vaccine skeptics, many of whom lack direct medical or scientific expertise.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services, Andrew Nixon, defended Monarez’s dismissal, claiming she had “acted maliciously to undermine the president’s agenda.” He insisted that any updates to the vaccine schedule would be “based on the latest available science.”

“Any potential changes to the childhood vaccine schedule will be based on the latest available science, and only after the ACIP recommends it and the acting CDC director reviews and approves those recommendations.”

Still, the growing number of departures and allegations of political meddling have raised alarm bells among public health experts and lawmakers alike. Cassidy noted the apparent contradiction between Kennedy’s public assurances and his private push for unvetted changes.

Less than a month after praising her “unimpeachable scientific credentials,” Secretary Kennedy fired her,” Cassidy said, referring to Monarez’s swearing-in. “

measles

Ten Cases of Measles Confirmed in Florida Elementary School Outbreak

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On Tuesday, the Broward County schools superintendent announced that seven children at Manatee Bay Elementary in Weston, Florida, have tested positive for measles. According to the Florida Department of Health, ten cases have been reported statewide.

Lawmakers and health officials are urging parents and state officials nationwide to take extra precautions to safeguard their children.

In a letter last week, Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo said the health department is “deferring to parents or guardians to make decisions about school attendance.” The letter also stated that “up to 90% of individuals without immunity will contract measles if exposed.” However, “Individuals with a history of prior infection or vaccination who have received the full series of the Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) immunization are 98% protected and are unlikely to contract measles.”

“Because your child may have already been exposed, you should watch your child for signs and symptoms of the disease, including a rash that often develops on the face and neck before spreading to the rest of the body. Other symptoms include high fever, which can reach 105°F, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. All children presenting with symptoms of illness should not attend school until symptoms have fully subsided without medication.”

According to the most recent data from the Florida Department of Health, nine out of the state’s measles cases have been reported in Broward County, and all of those cases have involved children. Two of the children are younger than four years old.

The Florida Department of Health released a memo to healthcare workers, reminding them to report any suspected cases.

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The World Health Organization (WHO) lists measles as one of the world’s most contagious diseases, which spreads through respiratory droplets. The virus remains active and infectious in the air and surfaces for up to two hours.

“Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus. It spreads easily when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. It can cause severe disease, complications, and even death. Measles can affect anyone but is most common in children. Measles infects the respiratory tract and then spreads throughout the body. Symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose and a rash all over the body.”

Its complications include blindness, encephalitis (an infection causing brain swelling), severe diarrhea, ear infections, and pneumonia. “Measles itself also weakens the immune system and can make the body ‘forget’ how to protect itself against infections, leaving children extremely vulnerable.”

The organization also recommends that all children get the measles, mumps, and rubella MMR vaccine. Due to widespread vaccination efforts, the United States had eliminated measles in 2000. It is unclear what the vaccination status was for the children under four.

US Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Florida, who represents the city of Weston, urged Florida Surgeon General Ladapo to declare a public health emergency and make it a requirement that unvaccinated children stay home during the outbreak.

In contrast to US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations, Ladapo’s advisory suggests that parents of unvaccinated children make their own decisions about whether or not to send them to school. The CDC advises unvaccinated individuals to remain home for at least 21 days after exposure, around the time it takes for symptoms to manifest.

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In addition to demanding that DeSantis do more to protect Floridians, Wasserman Schultz demanded that Ladapo resign or be fired.

“I would have thought he would have stepped in here or made sure there was some communication to ensure that irresponsible guidance isn’t issued by his surgeon general. And the fact that he hasn’t taken action to roll that back is representative of Ron DeSantis’s disinterest in keeping the public’s health safe.”

On Monday, the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) Chief Medical Officer Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH, issued a statement responding to the outbreaks.

“Measles can be particularly serious for children and potentially deadly. At least 1 in 5 unvaccinated people in the United States who contract measles is hospitalized. Nearly 1 out of 20 children develop pneumonia, the most frequent cause of measles-related death in young children. Approximately 1 child out of every 1,000 with measles will suffer brain injury, potentially causing convulsions, deafness, or intellectual disability. For unvaccinated babies who contract measles, 1 in 600 can develop a fatal neurological complication.

Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, but is still the most easily transmitted human virus presently in circulation. Thankfully, by following established public health principles, Americans can make informed decisions, prevent outbreaks, and protect our communities.

Vaccination is the best and safest way to protect children. Two doses of measles vaccine are more than 97% effective in preventing the disease entirely, and vaccinated people may continue to engage in routine activities even if they are exposed to someone with the disease.”

A total of 58 cases were reported last year, and 35 measles cases have already been reported in several states this year. With just 91.7% of Florida’s kindergartners vaccinated against measles, mumps, and rubella, the state is falling short of the national 95% vaccination rate target.

Statue of Liberty

Governor Cuomo Announces New Travel Restriction Enforcement’s For New York

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Governor Cuomo announced this week that he would be implementing even more travel enforcement operations at all airports in the state in order to ensure that all travelers coming into New York follow quarantine guidelines and restrictions. After New York became one of the country’s initial epicenters for Covid-19 at the beginning of this pandemic, the administration has made it a goal to protect itself from that happening again.

Part of the operation includes having enforcement teams stationed at every airport in New York State. These teams will meet arriving planes at the gates to greet all passengers as they exit into the airport. The enforcement teams will request proof of completion from every passenger in regards to their State Department of Health traveler forms. These forms are given to all airline passengers before, during, and after all flights to New York. 

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The state has now made these forms electronic as well to make it easier for passengers to complete before coming in and out of the state. The Department of Health in New York is also issuing an emergency health order that requires all out-of-state travelers coming into New York to complete the DOH traveler form before coming into the state. Travelers who fail to complete the forms before leaving the airport will be subject to a fine of $2,000 and may be brought in for a court hearing that will order a mandatory state-issued quarantine. 

A multitude of airlines have pledged to help make passengers more hyper-aware of these forms and the importance of filling them out. Many airlines have opted to use pre-flight emails/announcements, as well as in-flight announcements throughout the course of the entire trip. 

If you’re an out-of-state traveler that’s from one of the state’s on New York’s designated travel list you must fill out one of the DOH traveler forms online beforehand, this also holds true if you’re planning on entering the state via train or car. Currently New York has 19 states listed as meeting the criteria for a required quarantine. Cuomo states that it’s up to every out-of-state traveler to comply with the rules if the nation has any chance at recovering. 

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“New York’s success in fighting the COVID-19 virus is under two threats: lack of compliance and the virus coming to New York from other states with increasing infection rates.” 

Larger more commercial airlines will be hiring peace officers and various employees from state agencies to work on the enforcement teams for arriving flights everyday. More regional airports throughout the state will have the teams on site based on the number of daily arrivals. As you could imagine, smaller more regional airports are seeing a lot less traffic especially when compared to larger ones that are located in more populated areas such as NYC. 

Regional airport enforcement teams will also be made up of State DOH employees as well as local police depending on the area. Each airport is being required by the state to set up a large physical space at each gate that stands out and is clear to passengers. These areas will have proper social distancing markers set up and will hopefully work to run smoothly and quickly so that passengers can exit the airport as quickly and safely as possible.