"Speaking to lawmakers, Monarez recounted being directed by Kennedy to commit in advance, to approving every ACIP recommendation, regardless of the scientific evidence, referring to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). He also directed me to dismiss career officials responsible for vaccine policy without cause, she said. I responded that I could not pre-approve recommendations without reviewing evidence, and I had no basis to fire scientific experts."
"It also comes as concerns continue to grow over the stewardship of Kennedy, who has spearheaded the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement that critics say has forefronted vaccine scepticism and misinformation. Monarez recounted that Kennedy said she should resign if she could not follow the orders, adding he had spoken with the White House several times on the matter. Monarez said he could fire her if he believed he could not trust me. Days later, he did so."
Susan Monarez testified before a Senate committee that HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired her after 29 days for refusing to pre-approve every Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommendation without reviewing the evidence and for refusing to dismiss career vaccine scientists. Kennedy instructed her to commit in advance to approving all ACIP recommendations and to remove career officials responsible for vaccine policy without cause. Monarez declined, saying she had no basis to pre-approve recommendations or fire scientific experts. She framed the dismissal as part of a rollback of scientific rigor at the CDC amid concerns about Kennedy's MAHA movement and vaccine skepticism. Kennedy had removed all 17 ACIP members, citing persistent conflicts.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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