Former CDC Director Susan Monarez Testifies on Political Pressure from Sec. Kennedy

Allegations of Political Interference at CDC

• 🎯 Former CDC Director Susan Monarez testified that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pressured her to pre-approve vaccine recommendations without scientific evidence.
• ⚠️ Monarez stated she was told to either commit to signing off on all forthcoming ACIP recommendations or resign.
• 🗓️ She claims Kennedy informed her on August 25th that the childhood vaccine schedule would be changing starting in September.

Claims of White House Involvement

• 📞 Monarez alleged that Secretary Kennedy told her he had spoken to the President daily about changing the childhood vaccine schedule.
• 🤝 Kennedy also reportedly asked Monarez to meet with an individual named Aaron Siri, described as a colleague or collaborator, who had publicly suggested getting rid of the polio vaccine.

Disputed Accounts of Meetings

• 🗣️ Secretary Kennedy reportedly told the Finance Committee that he did not ask Monarez for pre-approval but rather to keep an open mind.
• 🔬 Monarez countered that Kennedy provided no data or science to support potential ACIP recommendations and stated that CDC had never collected the science or data related to the safety and efficacy of the childhood vaccine schedule.

Agenda Setting for ACIP Meetings

• 📊 Dr. Debra Houry, former chief medical officer, testified that political appointees, including Stuart Burns (Senior Advisor) and Rann Archer (HHS Counselor), worked with staff to set the agenda for scientific meetings.
• 🚫 Houry noted this practice of political staff setting the agenda for scientific meetings was unprecedented in her decade at the CDC.
• 📈 Concerns were raised about potential bias in discussions regarding the hepatitis B birth dose, with a senior advisor worried that data could lead to moving away from it.