Is Dave Weldon the best candidate to head CDC?

The US is facing numerous outbreaks of infectious diseases. The spread of measles began quiet in Texas last month. Since then, it has grown rapidly, and now has two deaths and almost 200 cases in the region. Most infections are in unjustified children. The cases have spread to New Mexico, and the scattered cases are occurring in some other countries, from Washington and California in Pennsylvania and the East Coast.

At the same time, we are seeing increasing cases of bird flu H5N1 deciming bird farms and with severe impact on milk farms. More infected mammals are being identified, with the spread of cats that concerns a particular concern. We have identified 70 human cases and a death in the SH.BA

This has been a bad flu season. Cases remain high, and “CDC estimates that there have been at least 40 million diseases, 520,000 hospitalizations and 22,000 flu deaths so far this season.” Sixteen other children died from the flu only this week, marking 114 pediatric flu deaths this season.

Although Pandemia Covid-19 was declared, wishing it does not make it true. It is clear that we still have a lot of deaths (about one thousand a week only in January). This week, two models of infectious diseases, JP Weiland and Michael Hoerger, each estimated that 1 in 110 people are likely to be actively infectious and that there are about 310,000 new infections/day.

Robert J. Kennedy, Jr. He was recently appointed Head of the Department of Health and Human Services, despite his history of strong opposition to vaccines and promoting vaccine misinformation. This week, Thursday, March 13, his friend, Dr. David Weldon will face a confirmation session in the Senate to be chief of centers for disease control and prevention. Weldon holds similar views and, in some cases, seemingly extremely extreme for some health issues.

immunizations

Weldon, a doctor, has long talked about CDC and FDA critically; He has deep disbelief in agencies and vaccines. In 2007, when he was in Congress, Weldon introduced the vaccine public security and confidence act because he thought there was a conflict of interest between the CDC that encourages vaccinations and was responsible for assessing their security. Weldon also fakely insisted that vaccines contain toxic ingredients including thimerosal. He introduced a draft law to stop vaccines containing thimerosal, Although they were already removed. He has also continued to promote the debut link between vaccines and autism. FDA and CDC are planning to repeat studies that require a connection.

Prof. Peter hotz MD PhD, a Baylor professor of pediatrics and molecular virology, said by email, “we have so many data that oppose vaccines and association of autism already, at the top of another simple reality: Lack of reliability given how autism processes occur in the early neurodewe. autism “

In fact, in terms of vaccine safety monitoring, the CDC works with the FDA Center for Biology Assessment and Research, and there Numerous security monitoring systems On the site: Vaccine Side Reporting System, V-SAFE, Vaccine Safety Datalin (VSD) and Clinical Immunization Safety Evaluation Project (CISA).

To give Weldon credit, he was co-sponsor of PepperA Diparty law that provided billions for HIV, Malaries and TB programs in poor countries. In another rare two-party action, he worked on a bill to stop patents for gene-based diagnostic tests.

Vaccine approval and support status

As I mentioned last month, there are a number of ways that RFK JR, especially as a team with Dave Weldon, can undermine vaccination programs.

The list includes delays in approval, spreading the disinformation and mutilation of the national vaccine injury compensation program, which protects pharmaceuticals from lawsuits.

Weldon can replace the CDC Advisory Committee on immunization practices with vaccine opponents (partly because he believes in a false way that current members have conflicts of interest). If so, they can change the recommendations for vaccinations, and then the insurers would not cover the costs. For example, they may say that HPV and hepatitis B vaccines are for sexually transmitted diseases, can be prevented by abstentions, and therefore should not be covered.

FDA vaccines and the Advisory Committee of approximate biological products planned for this month was canceled. Was to determine the composition of the next fall flu vaccine. This cancellation casts into question if a seasonal flu vaccine will be available.

H5N1, or bird flu, is disturbing growing. Millions of doses of a conventional inactivated H5N1 vaccine produced by Seqirus are available in national stock, but it is unclear how well they neutralize the types of virus currently circulating. Finland is vaccinating high -risk workers with this Bird’s influence vaccine advised by MF59.

Kennedy has also clearly discouraged the use of bird vaccines because he is afraid that they will turn the chickens into “mutant factories”. Moderna has a vaccine vaccine of developing MRNA poultry, but HHS is reassessing the contract as the Trump administration is not a fan of MRNA vaccines.

Jessica Malaty Rivera, an epidemiologist of infectious disease and a member of public health protection, said in email, “Mr. Kennedy has not kept his promises of vaccines made to Congress members. refuse Weldon’s appointment. “

We already have an anti-vaxxer as the head of HHS, which is not growing to inhibit growing measles, influenza and bird flu epidemics, as well as unnecessary and increased health risks for women. RFK Jr. stated, “We will give an infectious disease for about eight years.” Unfortunately, germs have different plans and are usually one step ahead of us.

Will what will a CDC do under Weldon’s perpetrator to encourage the use of vaccines and against misinformation for their risks? How many people should die from measles or flu before he and RFK Jr. Will they return to the basics of public health?

The Senate should ask, “Why is Weldon the best person for work?”

Note: I reached Dr. Weldon, communications of the Assistance Committee in Senate and Senators Cassidy, Collins, Paul and Murkowski. No one responded from the time of publication.