CDC chief ‘targeted’ for refusing to ‘rubber-stamp unscientific, reckless directives’, lawyers say – US politics live | US news
RFK JR “ Armazer Public Health ” and “Put millions of American lives at risk,” said lawyers for CDC director
Susan Monarez Was withdrawn from her post as director of centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday without being told why she was dismissed, said her lawyers in a statement.
“First of all, they were independent advice committees and career experts. Then it was the dismissal of experienced scientists. Now, secretary Kennedy and HHS have taken the detour of weapons on public health for political purposes and by putting millions of American lives in danger, “said his lawyers, Mark Zaid and Abbe David Lowell, in a declaration published on social networks.
“When the director of the CDC, Susan Monarez, refused Stamp, reckless and non -scientific directives and health experts dedicated to the fire, she chose to protect the public by serving a political program. For this, she was targeted. The Dre Monarez has neither resigned nor has received the notification of the White House that she will not reside.”
“This is not a single civil servant,” added the lawyers. “This is the systematic dismantling of public health institutions, the silence of experts and the dangerous politicization of science. The attack on Dr. Monarez is a warning to each American: our systems based on evidence is compromised from the inside. ”
The Ministry of Health and Social Services did not offer any explanation when it announced in an unsigned position on social networks that Monarez, which was confirmed by the Senate as director of the CDC last month, was no longer in charge of the public health agency.
Sources “which have spoken anonymously out of fear of reprisals,” said the New York Times reports that Monarez had opposed changes in the modifications of the expert panel who advise the agency on the vaccination policy made by Donald TrumpAnti-Vaccin Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr.
An administration official also told Times that Kennedy had summoned Monarez to his office on Monday and asked for his resignation. After refusing to do so, she called DR Bill CassidyThe republican president of the senatorial health committee. Kennedy then accused Monarez of being “a leak” and said that she would be dismissed.
A few hours before Monarez left the agency, Kennedy praised the decisions of the Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday by revoking the authorization to use emergency for the COVVI-19 vaccines manufactured by Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax that CDC experts believe they have saved 3.2 million lives in the United States.
Vaccines from the three manufacturers are now authorized by the FDA only for people who are 65 and over or the youngest with an underlying medical condition which endangers them in serious illness.
Even those who qualify for vaccines will only be able to obtain them in the United States if the advisory committee, reshaped by Kennedy, includes vaccinated adversaries, votes to approve them.
Key events
The newsletter publishes the full text of the messaging statements of three CDC leaders who have resigned
Inside Medicine, a newsletter written by Jeremy Faust, researcher in public health and emergency medicine doctor, has just published the full text of electronic mail declarations three CDC managers who resigned on Wednesday sent to their colleagues to explain their reasons to leave the American public health agency after its new director is suddenly deceased.
The most explosive charge came from Dr Demetre Daskalakiswho resigned as director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. “I am no longer able to play in this role because of the current armament of public health. You are the best team I have ever worked with, and you continue to shine despite this dark cloud on the agency and our profession, ”wrote Daskalakis. “Please take care of yourself and your teams and make the right decisions for yourself.”
“For the good of the nation and the world, the science of the CDC should never be censored or subject to political breaks or interpretations”, ” Dr Deb HouryThe agency’s head doctor, wrote. “Vaccines save lives – this is an undeniable, well -established scientific fact. The overestimation of risks and the rise of disinformation has cost lives, as shown in the greatest number of American measles in 30 years and the violent attack on our agency. »»
Houry’s declaration seemed to be a clear response to recent declarations and actions to limit access to vaccines by the anti-vaccine health secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr.
Dr Daniel JerniganWho resigned as director of the first American center for the study of emerging and zoonotic infectious diseases, told his colleagues: “I firmly believe in the public health and leadership mission that the CDC has given for almost 80 years; however, taking into account the current context in the department, I think it is best for me to offer my resignation.”
Jernigan, whose center included the CDC immunization security office, told Congress last year that the CDC estimates that vaccination of children born between 1994 and 2021 “will prevent 472 million diseases and 29.8 million hospitalizations, helps avoid 1,052,000 deaths and save nearly 2.2 billions of dollars in total societal cost.”
He also underlined research that in November 2022, COVVI-19 vaccines had “saved more than 3.2 million lives in the United States, prevented more than 18.5 million hospitalizations and struck more than $ 1.15 dollars in health costs”.
The Director of CDC immunization cites “public health armament” for resignation – Report
“I am no longer able to play in this role because of the current armament of public health”, Dr. Demeter daskalakisWho resigned Wednesday from his post as director of the National Center for Immunization and CDC respiratory diseases told colleagues in an email obtained by Stat, an information site on health.
These concerns were reproduced by another CDC chief who is coming out, Dr. Deb HousThe chief doctor, who wrote that “the changes in progress prevent me from continuing in my work as head of the agency”, adding that science should “never be censored or subject to political interpretations”.
The two CDC chiefs and their colleague Daniel Jerniganwho directed the center for emerging zoonotic infectious diseases, leave the agency after the brutal departure of Susan MonarezDirector confirmed by the CDC Senate.
US officials announced on Wednesday the departure of the country’s main public health agency after less than a month of work.
“Susan Monarez is no longer director of centers for disease control and prevention. We thank her for her service devoted to the American people, “the United States Ministry of Health and Social Services wrote in a statement published on social networks.
HHS officials did not explain why Monarez is no longer with the agency. Before the announcement, Monarez told the Associated Press: “I cannot comment.”
Three senior CDC officials resigned after the departure of the new director Susan Monarez
Three senior centers for Disease Control and Prevention resigned on Wednesday after the new CDC director Susan Monarezsuddenly left the agency.
Shortly after the United States Ministry of Health and Social Services, HHS announced on social networks that Monarez “is no longer director of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention”, at least three CDC managers resigned: Dr. Debrathe chief doctor; DR Daniel JerniganThe director of the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases; and Dr Demeter daskalakisDirector of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.
There was no immediate explanation to explain why one of the senior leaders left the best American public health agency. Monarrez took the oath only four weeks ago.
