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A contentious exchange took place in the Senate Finance Committee hearing on Thursday. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and senators clashed over claims made by former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Susan Monarez. Monarez alleged that she was fired for resisting unscientific vaccine recommendations, an assertion Kennedy strongly denied.
Monarez’s claims were made in a recent Wall Street Journal editorial. She contended that she faced pressure to resign or face termination if she did not preapprove the recommendations of a recently constituted vaccine advisory panel, some members of which have been noted for their antivaccine sentiments.
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Kennedy dismissed these allegations outright. He stated, “I never had a private meeting with her,” and denied telling Monarez to preapprove the panel’s recommendations. Kennedy further affirmed in his testimony that he asked Monarez to rely on her own team of HHS experts and their rigorous, evidence-based reviews.
A spokesperson for HHS backed up Kennedy’s testimony, telling Axios that Monarez “was never told to preapprove anything.” Yet, attorneys for Monarez maintain that Kennedy’s claims are “false, and at times, patently ridiculous.” They affirmed that Monarez stands by her statements and would repeat them under oath.
Kennedy dismissed all 17 members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices in June, aiming to “reestablish public confidence in vaccine science.” He then appointed several new members to the panel, including critics of COVID-19 vaccines. This raises important questions about the future of vaccine recommendations and public trust in health institutions.
Tensions remain high as claims and counterclaims continue to fly. The public’s right to accurate information remains paramount, and the significance of this issue should not be overlooked. The role of science in guiding our decisions continues to be a matter of intense debate.
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