Public health is being jeopardized by the Trump administration's reckless promotion of anti-vaccination conspiracy theories. The nomination of David Weldon, a vocal anti-vaccine extremist, as director of the CDC poses an unacceptable risk to the nation. As public health experts warn of a potential major H5N1 (bird flu) outbreak and we see a resurgence of preventable diseases like measles due to declining vaccination rates, it is imperative that we have science-based leadership at the helm of agencies like the CDC. Vaccines have saved over 154 million lives in the past half-century by preventing deadly illnesses. Putting someone who rejects evidence-based medicine and spreads misinformation about vaccine safety in charge of the CDC will endanger millions of American lives. The Senate must reject Weldon's nomination to protect public health and uphold scientific integrity in policymaking. We cannot afford to have conspiracy theorists undermining vital disease prevention efforts during this precarious time.
First sent on March 12 by Coleman
