Newsroom | Defend Public Health

RFK Jr. spreads false vaccine claims, exposing children to diseases like polio

DPH members Donna Gaffney and Teri Mills take on HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s false statements on vaccines and his decimation of research funded by the National Institutes of Health, drawing a stark comparison between RFK Jr. and his uncle, President John F. Kennedy.

RFK Jr's Whopper of the Week

Whopper of the Week: RFK Jr. Frightens Parents with False Claims about COVID Vaccine Dangers

COVID-19 vaccines are safe for children. But Secretary Kennedy has repeatedly claimed that the vaccines are deadly and should not be given to kids because of their “profound risks”. Kennedy wildly exaggerates the frequency and severity of risks associated with COVID vaccines. He has tried and failed to find any documented pediatric deaths due to the vaccines. Kennedy wants to sow doubt about pediatric COVID-19 vaccines to justify policies that would severely limit the ability of parents to vaccinate their children.

The Hill

Trump's shutdown firings at CDC cause whiplash, despair: What to know

The Hill covers the chaos at the CDC with layoffs implemented and partially rescinded over the weekend including quotes from Coordinating Committee Member Gregg Gonsalves and others on the impacts on staff and the agency's functioning.

Healthday

700+ CDC Layoffs Reversed Amid Backlash Over Cuts to Disease Response Teams

Healthday covers the back and forth layoff notices at CDC and growing outcry about the process including quotes from Coordinating Committee Member Gregg Gonsalves.

Connecticut mirror

Vaccines must remain available based on science, not politics

DPH member Gary Spinner discusses the strong evidence for vaccines and how state officials in Connecticut and neighboring states are banding together to support access and counter misinformation.

The Washington Post

Hundreds of CDC layoffs reversed, but biodefense preparedness staff hit

The post catalogs the CDC departments still gutted after some staff reinstatements, quoting DPH Coordinating Committee member Gregg Gonsalves asking, “Did they really not know they were firing the people tracking Ebola? Did they not care enough to find out who they were firing and what they did before sending termination letters?"

Firings of hundreds of CDC employees reportedly reversed

The Guardian covers the back and forth at the CDC with employees being abruptly terminated and then close to half rehired with quotes from Coordinating Committee Member Gregg Gonsalves.

Independent UK

‘Damage is done’: Mass firings and dysfunction at CDC spark chaos for public health, critics warn

The Independent covers the chaos, confusion and fear among CDC staff following layoffs by the Trump Administration during the "Friday Night Massacre" including quotes from Defend Public Health's statement and Coordinating Committee Member Gregg Gonsalves.

Mass Firings And Rehiring At CDC Create Chaos, Fear

Forbes covers the chaos of CDC employees being abruptly terminated and then some rehired by the Trump Administration with quotes from Coordinating Committee Member Gregg Gonsalves.

defend public health

Mass CDC Firings, Confusion Will Cost Lives; Congress Must Act

Mass firings at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, happening with no transparency and creating much confusion over the weekend, threaten the health of everyone in the U.S. and will lead to needless, preventable deaths, public health experts with Defend Public Health said today, urging Congress to act immediately.

defend public health

Mass CDC Firings, Confusion Will Cost Lives; Congress Must Act

Mass firings at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, happening with no transparency and creating much confusion over the weekend, threaten the health of everyone in the U.S. and will lead to needless, preventable deaths, public health experts with Defend Public Health said today, urging Congress to act immediately.

Evidenced-based Care for All: Addressing Myths about Gender Affirming Health Care

This year the Department of Health and Human Services released a report titled “Treatment for Pediatric Gender Dysphoria: Review of Evidence and Best Practices” which claimed to “summarize, synthesize, and critically evaluate the existing literature on best practices for promoting the health and wellbeing of children and adolescents with distress related to their sex or to social expectations associated with their sex.” In reality, the HHS report spread dangerous and inaccurate information about gender dysphoria and gender affirming healthcare. This post, in partnership with The Coalition for Health Resilience, corrects the record