WASHINGTON – Former President Donald Trump has publicly questioned teh efficacy and necessity of updated Covid-19 vaccines, stating they have “ripped apart” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as the agency navigates internal turmoil stemming from a revised vaccination strategy. Trump’s remarks follow a recent decision by the Food and Drug Management to narrow its approval for the next Covid vaccine, a move that has drawn criticism from public health experts and created confusion regarding eligibility.
During a Cabinet meeting last week, Trump lauded his administration’s Operation Warp Speed as “one of the greatest achievements ever in politics,” the initiative responsible for the rapid progress and distribution of the initial Covid-19 vaccines. however, he has since voiced support for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s push to overhaul the government’s approach to vaccines.
The FDA‘s narrowed approval came after Commissioner Marty Makary defended the decision in a Wall Street Journal op-ed, asserting that pharmaceutical companies had not adequately demonstrated the need for vaccination among individuals under 65 or those without specific health conditions.”No one knows how many shots a healthy person should get in his natural life,” Makary wrote, adding that the new framework prioritizes vaccines for those most likely to benefit while allowing for evidence gathering regarding the broader population’s needs.
Trump’s backing of Kennedy’s efforts included approving the dismissal of CDC official Dr.Anne monarez after she declined to commit to supporting recommendations from a Kennedy-appointed advisory panel, some members of which have previously expressed concerns about the safety of established vaccines.
The removal of Monarez triggered a crisis within the CDC, leading to the resignations of four othre senior officials. These officials have accused Kennedy and his allies of marginalizing agency scientists and pursuing policies that could limit access to routine immunizations.
