A tragedy of Shakespearean proportions is underway at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This once fine center of learning and policy was the envy of the world until it was capriciously demolished during the past year, all under the auspices of one man with the blessing of another.
This fine ship sailed the tempestuous epidemics and pandemics dealing with everything from measles to elbola to COVID. But unless this vessel is quickly righted, it will be too late to save. Meanwhile, it should be no surprize if pharmacies stock up on “eye of newt, and toe of frog” as remedies for once conquered diseases that will start creeping back as a tiny minority of naysayers seek to make it difficult if not impossible for people to have access to vaccines anymore.
Robert Kennedy, Jr. was a poor choice for Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to begin with. To say he has a checkered background is to paint his history optimistically, as Wikipedia documents in detail. Appointing him to supervise health in America would be akin to appointing a dedicated socialist to chair the Federal Reserve Board or a pacifist to serve as Secretary of Defense. Kennedy is a poor choice primarily because he has no medical credentials. While that, in itself, might not disqualify an otherwise able administrator for the job—provided that individual knows his limitations and trusts the eminent physicians in various medical specialties—it also hinges on having a healthy respect for science. Those qualities, however, are also lacking in him. His instincts tend to lean toward alternative treatments, conspiracies, and cockamamie theories that are typically found in the Third World where countries are known to be “shit-holes” according to our president. Kennedy relies on hunches, “gut” feelings, and outrageous behaviors that have not served him well and will not serve Americans well either. In fact, any other president would never have considered him for this position, let alone any other position in their administration.
This is why I’m writing this “hew and cry.” I’m a retired healthcare worker and a medical blogger, though I’m not a physician. I also enjoy writing about history, religion, philosophy, poetry, literature, astrobiology, movies, and many other topics, perhaps even more than I do about diseases and disorders. However, I cannot, as Dylan Thomas once said, “…go gently into that good night.” I have children and grandchildren who depend on a CDC that can provide safe, accurate, and effective information on how we may protect ourselves from viruses and bacteria—some of which cannot be easily defeated, if at all. This CDC is losing public trust on a daily basis and something must be done.
The Centers for Disease Proliferation (CDP), formerly known as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is preparing for an impending announcement on vaccines, according to a story updated on CNN today.
According to sources, the Health and Human Services (HHS) is proposing that children may no longer receive immunizations against rotavirus, hepatitis A, meningococcal disease, influenza, or chickenpox. The CDC through its vaccine advisory committee has already extended the timeline for when infants receive the hepatitis B vaccine, which has raised concerns.
“Ending the recommendation for newborns makes it more likely that the number of cases will begin to increase again. This makes America sicker,” said Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., a hepatologist who has treated patients with hepatitis B and who nonetheless voted for Robert Kennedy Jr.’s confirmation earlier this year to run U.S. health policy. In fact, Senator Cassidy cast the deciding vote in Kennedy’s favor! Accordingly, Democrats believe he may bear some responsibility in this matter. If he feels strongly enough as a physician that HHS policies are putting infants and children at risk, then he should oppose his President and advocate for Kennedy’s removal or impeachment. What could possibly be more important to a doctor than saving lives?
Fortunately, for now, parents who trust science more than they trust Facebook can insist that their family physician order specific vaccines for their children if medically advisable, regardless of the politics and conspiracies driving HHS and the CDP (née CDC). HHS is assuring the public that insurance will still cover the vaccines (until they don’t).
Meanwhile, if you are a hepatitis A or B virus, flu virus, or the pathogen that causes meningitis or septicemia (including the sometimes deadly complications these diseases can bring), you have something to celebrate this Christmas. And HHS is picking up the tab!
