Upcoming vaccine meeting causes turmoil at the CDC, resulting in the termination of the director and multiple resignations.
In a shocking turn of events, Susan Monarez, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), was fired on unspecified grounds. The White House did not respond to a request for comment on whether former President Donald Trump would issue a statement on Monarez's dismissal.
Monarez's lawyer, Mark Zaid, confirmed that she was in Washington, D.C., at the time of her firing. Senator Bernie Sanders has urged Senator Bill Cassidy to convene a public hearing to hear testimony from Kennedy, Monarez, and the CDC leaders who resigned in the wake of Monarez's ouster.
The leadership changes at the CDC did not stop with Monarez's firing. Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, who directed the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, resigned due to a document that ignored feedback from career staff at CDC. Other top officials also resigned in protest.
The White House appointed Jim O'Neill as the new acting CDC director. However, the leadership of the working group for the presentation of COVID vaccine data and research at the next ACIP meeting has not been explicitly stated. It is known that US Health Minister Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dismissed all 17 members of the ACIP vaccine advisory committee and will be appointing new members, implying significant changes in leadership.
The document in question was guidance for a newly formed work group. The work group will be led by Retsef Levi, an MIT professor who has been vocally against the mRNA Covid vaccines. This move has raised concerns among health professionals and politicians alike.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been criticised for repeatedly undermining the agency's independent Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Dr. Houry, a CDC official, criticised Kennedy's lack of visibility at the agency and expressed concerns about Monarez being called to the secretary's office after trying to make changes.
In a separate development, Zaid did not share details on what led up to Monarez's firing but mentioned that they are contemplating every available action. Kennedy expressed his views on the issues he believes the CDC has faced, such as misinformation during the Covid pandemic, incorrect testing, social distancing, and school closures.
The controversy surrounding the CDC continues to unfold, with calls for transparency and accountability growing louder. The future of the agency, its leadership, and its role in the ongoing Covid-19 response remain uncertain.
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