On Sept. 17 Dr. Susan Monarez, the former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), was called to testify to the U.S. Senate ostensibly about the circumstances that led to her ouster from the CDC. However, the hearing became a scene of “orchestrated criticism” and the “undermining” of Secretary Robert Kennedy, according to the anti-vax fanatics at MAHA Action. From the opening remarks to the closing statement, the topic was Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert Kennedy, who became increasingly isolated and discredited. The reaction from the majority of the committee members to RFK ranged from open hostility to coaxing him to adopt public health measures that are known to save lives.
Speaking to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, Dr. Monarez stated that RFK wanted to make ideological changes at the CDC and “just wanted blanket approval.” She said that RFK wanted to make changes to the childhood vaccine schedule and fire many of the CDC scientists. Monarez said that this endangered public health and subverted the agency’s medical expertise.
In the few conversations that Monarez had with RFK, he threatened her that she “needed to be on board,” and made clear that the decisions were already made before any advisory board could make their recommendations. Monarez said, “I had refused to commit to approving vaccine recommendations without evidence, fire career officials without cause, or resign—and I had shared my concerns with this committee. I told the secretary that if he believed he could not trust me, he could fire me.”
RFK’s only hardcore allies on the committee were Senators Rand Paul (R-KY) and Roger Marshall (R-KS), who argued that the CDC recommends too many vaccinations for children. Monarez responded, “The data associated with those recommendations has been validated and vetted, and that is the current schedule.” These Senators also tried to criticize hepatitis B vaccinations for infants, but they were discredited by Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy (R-LA) who is a physician. Cassidy explained in detail how decisions were made and tens of thousands have been protected by the vaccine. Cassidy said, “we should stand up and salute the people that made that decision, because there are people who would otherwise be dead if those mothers were not given that option to have their child vaccinated.”
Throughout the hearing Committee Chairman Cassidy demanded “radical transparency” as called for by President Donald Trump. Cassidy has been a leading voice against the anti-vax lobby. On Sept. 12 Cassidy sent a letter to RFK requesting that he give quick and unequivocal support in his state of Louisiana for vaccinations to stop the state’s worst outbreak in 35 years of pertussis, or whooping cough. Cassidy’s letter to RFK states, “I want to work together to stop pertussis. Your strong public support for this vaccine will save lives.” Cassidy’s letter further encourages RFK to support the vaccination campaign by quoting President Donald Trump, who said, “You have vaccines that work. They just pure and simple work. They’re not controversial at all. And I think those vaccines should be used, otherwise some people are going to catch it and they endanger other people.” According to the Louisiana Department of Health the state has 164 cases of whooping cough with at least 40 hospitalizations and two deaths.
