Dr. Susan Monarez, former director for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was confronted Wednesday with heated questions from Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., about the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines.
In testimony before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, Monarez said she was fired after she refused to preapprove vaccine recommendations from a CDC panel without seeing scientific evidence. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has denied these claims and told senators earlier this month that she was lying. Monarez’s firing led to the resignations of several other top health officials, including chief medical officer Dr. Debra Houry, who also testified in Wednesday’s hearing.
Paul, a Libertarian and noted skeptic of vaccine mandates, initially said he agreed with Monarez that “we need to restore trust in public health” but said to do so, there must be “a discussion about the actual science.” To do that, he wanted to talk about what the data say “about specific vaccines,” “about specific age groups” and “about specific policies.” When Monarez responded, he rejected her answers or shot down her answers as “ridiculous.”
“Does the COVID vaccine reduce the rate of death for children under 18?” Paul asked.
“It, once again, it can,” Monarez said.
“That’s ridiculous answer,” Paul retorted. “No, it doesn’t, and there is no statistical evidence that it does reduce the death rate.”
The hearing comes a day before a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the panel that issues vaccine recommendations. Kennedy, known for his anti-vaccine advocacy, has come under fire for removing all members of the board and replacing them with people who align with his views. The panel is expected to vote on authorizations for COVID-19 vaccines, among others.
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