Summary
Donald Trump’s nomination of anti-vaccine advocate David Weldon to lead the CDC has sparked celebration among anti-vaccine groups.
Weldon, a former congressman and longtime critic of vaccine safety, has promoted debunked theories linking vaccines to autism and appeared in anti-vaccine films.
His nomination raises concerns about undermining vaccine recommendations, public health messaging, and legal protections for vaccine manufacturers, potentially jeopardizing access to childhood immunizations.
Critics warn this move signals the Trump administration’s alignment with anti-vaccine ideologies, prioritizing politics over science-based public health policies.
Under current law they can. It’s not illegal to prescribe unapproved medicine, it just risky because FDA approval is considered a reliable standard. If the FDA goes to shit, they can look to foreign countries for more reliable guidance. Organizations need to learn to put their professional obligations over just following what the government says.