Support for CDC pick offset by ‘worrying’ ACIP update

Summary: President Trump has nominated Dr. Erica Schwartz to lead the CDC. Health experts are thrilled because she has 24 years of medical experience in the U.S. Coast Guard and strongly supports public health.

However, experts are also very worried about other things happening at the agency. Recently, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. changed the rules for the CDC's vaccine advisory board. Now, people without actual vaccine or public health expertise can help make national vaccine rules.

To make matters more confusing, the current acting CDC director blocked a major study from being published. The study proved that this season's COVID-19 vaccines cut hospital visits by 55%. Because the government wouldn't publish it, a doctor had to leak the study online so the public could see the science. Experts warn that hiding good data and putting non-experts in charge could hurt trust in public health.

For more details, see Healio at healio.com/news/infectious-disease/20260519/support-for-cdc-pick-offset-by-worrying-acip-update (opens in new tab)