Former top health official criticizes RFK Jr. for downplaying measles deaths

Former top health official criticizes RFK Jr. for downplaying measles deaths

The former top vaccines official at the Food and Drug Administration criticized Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for downplaying the deaths of unvaccinated children from measles, amid this year’s record outbreak of the virus. “To dismiss children’s deaths due to infectious diseases that are preventable by vaccines as just expected or…

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Trump HHS eliminates office that sets poverty levels tied to benefits for at least 80 million people

Trump HHS eliminates office that sets poverty levels tied to benefits for at least 80 million people

President Donald Trump’s firings at the Department of Health and Human Services included the entire office that sets federal poverty guidelines, which determine whether tens of millions of Americans are eligible for health programs such as Medicaid, food assistance, child care, and other services, former staff said. The small team, with technical data expertise, worked…

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CDC redeploys to Texas measles outbreak after layoffs, as RFK Jr. calls vaccine "most effective way" to stop spread

CDC redeploys to Texas measles outbreak after layoffs, as RFK Jr. calls vaccine “most effective way” to stop spread

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has begun redeploying staff to respond to the deadly outbreak of measles in Texas, a spokesperson said Monday, a week after steep layoffs at the agency impacted its response to the spread of the virus.  “A team of three deployed yesterday to meet with county and state officials…

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RFK Jr. purges CDC and FDA's public records teams, despite "transparency" promises

RFK Jr. purges CDC and FDA’s public records teams, despite “transparency” promises

Teams handling Freedom of Information Act requests at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration were gutted Tuesday as part of the widespread job cuts ordered by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., multiple officials said.  The process of fulfilling FOIA requests from reporters, advocacy groups…

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