Surgeon general nominee won't say she urges vaccination

"Every individual needs to talk to their doctor before putting a medication in their body. Vaccines save lives and I'm supportive of vaccination."

"We do not know as a medical community what causes autism. Science is never settled."

"We've had two children die from measles in west Texas. You're a mom, we're on the verge of losing our measles elimination status."

During a hearing, a physician nominee was pressed on vaccine policy, particularly regarding measles outbreaks across the country. While she stated that vaccines save lives and expressed support for vaccination, she emphasized that individuals should consult their doctors before receiving medications. When questioned about whether vaccines cause autism—a claim promoted by a prominent vaccine skeptic but discredited by the medical community—she did not rule out a connection and advocated for continued research. She argued that the medical community does not know what causes autism and that science is never settled. A senator countered by highlighting recent measles deaths in Texas and ongoing outbreaks in South Carolina, warning of potential loss of measles elimination status. The nominee sought to redirect focus toward chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes.

Read at Axios