WASHINGTON (AP) – The US public health system is heading to “very dangerous places” with health secretaries Robert F. Kennedy Jr. And his team of anti-vaccine advisors fired the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Susan Monares warned the Senator on Wednesday.
Describing the extraordinary confusion within the country’s health agencies, Monales and former CDC chief medical officer Debra Hawley said longtime vaccine skeptics Kennedy and his political advisers have repeatedly rejected data supporting the safety and efficacy of the vaccine.
Monares’ revelation to the Senate raised serious questions even among some Republicans about Kennedy’s self-proclaimed self-proclaimed dedication Adopting “Gold Standard Science” to develop public health guidance, including national vaccination schedules. Her testimony was given to the Senate Health Committee a day before the vaccine panel was present. It is set to consider major changes For everyday vaccinations recommended for children in the country.
Monales, who was fired 29 days after his tenure over a disagreement over vaccine policy with Kennedy, said fatal infections like polio are poised to make a catastrophic comeback if the health secretary and his team continue their public campaign against everyday shots.
“We believe that preventable illnesses will return and that they will harm those that do not need to harm our children,” Monales said before the Senate Health Committee.
Despite her concerns, some Republicans on Wednesday raised questions about Monares’ explanation of their interactions with Kennedy, and threw firm support behind the Health Secretary. Kennedy’s spokesman did not provide a response to Monares’ testimony. In a post from X, he thanked Republican senators for their support during the hearing, and said Kennedy “we will win the trust of Americans and refocus on a mission that is centered around the CDC.”
According to Monares, data and scientists have been removed from conversations about vaccines
Monales said Kennedy refused to approve a new vaccine recommendation expected to be released later this week, and if Kennedy rejected recommendations for a new vaccine that is expected to be released by the CDC’s Advisory Vaccine Panel, Kennedy told her. She said he made no suggestions when he asked for data or science to back up Kennedy’s request to change vaccination schedules as a child.
She added that Kennedy said “he spoke to the president about changing his childhood vaccination schedule every day.”
Senator Bill Cassidy, a doctor who chairs the powerful health committee, listened enthusiastically as Monares explained his conversations with Kennedy and his advisors.
“To be clear, he said there was no science or data, but did he still expect you to change the schedule?” Cassidy asked.
Monales also argued that Kennedy banned her from speaking to CDC career staff (many of its scientists and researchers) and directed her not to speak directly to the US Senator. After Kennedy fired her, Monares reached into Cassidy’s office. This is a move Republican Sen. Ashley Moody faintly criticised on Wednesday.
“Contacting my office, me, or frankly our office is perfectly appropriate for anyone with surveillance concerns,” Cassidy said.
Cassidy, who is heading out for reelection next year, has carefully praised President Donald Trump’s commitment to promoting health policies, but has revealed he is worried about the circumstances surrounding the removal of Monares.
Meanwhile, Houry described similar interactions with Kennedy’s political staff. She said she played an unprecedented role in preparing materials for the CDC Advisory Vaccine Panel meeting.
Houry said the CDC advisory panel asked political advisers about providing data on the hepatitis B vaccine for viewing. The panel is expected to consider whether the newborn should receive a shot of hepatitis B on Thursday. This shot is given to newborns to prevent spread of fatal disease from the mother.
However, Houry argued that Kennedy’s political advisors dismissed the data as biased because they could support him in keeping shots on his schedule.
“You suggest they want to get away from the birth rate, but were they afraid that your data should keep it?” Cassidy asked.
A loyal Republican raises doubts about Monales’ account
Democrats who opposed Monares’ nomination questioned Kennedy’s motivation to fire his hand-picked supervision after being unanimously approved by Republicans a few weeks ago.
“Frankly, she stood up to protect the well-being of Americans, so she was fired,” said Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Democrat-conspired independent from Vermont.
Monares refused to approve new vaccination recommendations without scientific evidence, saying she did not want to eliminate high-ranking career CDC officials without reason to lead to her expulsion.
Kennedy I denied Monales’ accusations that he ordered a “rubber” vaccine recommendation from her office admit that he requested fire. He said Monares admitted she was “unreliable” at the meeting.
Several Senate Republicans continued to question Monales’ credibility. Their criticism of Monares was shared on social media accounts belonging to Kennedy and the official US Health and Human Services Agency.
At one point, Sen. Mark Wayne Marin, an Oklahoma Republican and close ally of Kennedy, told the committee that the final meeting with Monares’ health secretary was recorded. Claiming she had inaccurately told the details of her conversation with Kennedy, Marin reminded Monales of a “recorded meeting” and once again pushed her to see whether she told Kennedy “can’t trust it.”
Marin later said outside the hearing that he was “wrong” about the recording’s existence.
“If there is a recording on HHS, I ask them to release the recording,” Cassidy said.
Several Republicans questioned Monales’ loyalty to Kennedy, pointing out that Alabama GOP Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who said Trump was elected to make the change.
“America needs to be better than this,” Tuberville said.
Monales said she was “stiff” about the upcoming vaccine panel meeting
The CDC’s advisory vaccine panel will begin a two-day session in Atlanta on Thursday to discuss shots against Covid-19 and hepatitis B, as well as the MMR/Chicken vaccine combination. Members have doubts about whether a shot of hepatitis B administered to newborns is necessary, but it is not unclear how the panel will vote for the recommendations that it suggests to be more restrictive.
CDC directors should support these recommendations before they become official. Deputy Director of Health and Welfare Jim O’Neillcurrently serving as acting director of the CDC.
“I’m very nervous about that,” Monales said of the meeting.
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Associated Press authors Matt Brown of Washington and Meg Kinnard of Chapin, South Carolina, contributed to the report.
