Public Health Workers Criticize RFK Jr. After CDC Shooting

On Wednesday, more than 750 public health officers sent a letter to the Secretary of Health, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The letter – signed by current and anonymous staff members of the American Department of Health and Social Services (HHS), the CDC and the National Institutes of Health, which noted the letter to Atlanta, on August 8, “were not random”.

“The attack occurred in the midst of growing mistrust in public institutions, motivated by a politicized rhetoric that has transformed public health professionals for the targets of targets of wickedness – and now, violence,” said public health workers in the letter, which was also addressed to the members of the Congress. “The CDC is a leader in public health in the defense of the United States against health threats to the country and abroad. When a federal health agency is attacked, American health is attacked. When the federal workforce is not sure, America is not sure. ”

Public health workers then accused Kennedy, a leading vaccination skeptic, of being “accomplice to dismantle the American public health infrastructure and endanger the health of the nation by disseminating information on inaccurate health several times.” They have cited several statements and actions that Kennedy has made in recent months, stressing his assertion that the mRNA vaccines “are not effectively protecting” against higher respiratory infections such as COVID -19 -, despite the years of research showing that the shots are both safe and effective -and its announcement that HHS was going to finish the development of RNA vaccines. They also condemned his decision to withdraw all experts from a critical advisory committee for vaccines. And they said that some of Kennedy’s previous comments – as there is a “corruption of corruption to the CDC” – “sowing public distrust” of the health agency.

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Public health officers expressed their wish to honor the police David Rose, who was killed by responding to the attack on the CDC headquarters in August.

HHS said in a statement that Kennedy “is firmly standing with CDC employees – both in the field and in all centers – invalidating their security and well -being remain an absolute priority.” The agency added that after filming earlier this month, Kennedy went to Atlanta and qualified the CDC “a brilliant star” among the health agencies in the world.

“For the first time in 70 years of history, HHS’s mission really resonates with the American people – led by President Trump and the bold commitment of secretary Kennedy to make America again healthy,” said HHS. “Any attempt to confuse largely supported public health reforms with the violence of a suicidal mass shooter is an attempt to politicize a tragedy.”

The law enforcement officials said they had found evidence that the suspect in the August shooting, whom they identified as Patrick Joseph White of Georgia, blamed the COVVI-19 vaccine for his health ailments. White was found dead on the scene and the authorities later said that he died of a self-inflicted ball injury.

CDC director Susan Monarez noted the dangers posed by disinformation at a staff meeting following the attack. “We know that disinformation can be dangerous,” she said, according to NBC News. “Not only for health, but for those who trust us and those we want to trust. We must rebuild confidence together. “

The day after the shooting, Kennedy expressed his condolences to the Rose family in a post on X.

“We know how our public health colleagues have passed today. No one should face violence while working to protect the health of others, “he said. “We actively support CDC staff in the field and through the agency. Public health officers come up with a goal every day, even in moments of sorrow and uncertainty. We honor their service. We hold on to them. And we remain united in our mission to protect and improve the health of each American. ”

Kennedy was one of President Donald Trump’s most controversial firms and has faced interrogations led by senators during his confirmation audiences. He attracted the indignation of the medical establishment in the past to spread disinformation, in particular the repetition of the demystified assertion that vaccines cause autism.

In their letter, public health officers said that “dangerous and deceptive declarations and actions of Kennedy have contributed to harassment and violence felt by CDC staff”. They implored him to take three steps by September 2 to “maintain his commitment to protect the health of the American public”, in particular by asking him to “stop disseminating inaccurate health information”, in particular concerning vaccines, the transmission of infectious diseases and public health establishments in the country. They also urged him to assert the scientific integrity of the CDC and to guarantee the safety of HHS employees, for example through emergency procedures and alerts.