Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #112

[Gemmie]

Health leaders, medical groups: CDC leader exodus puts nation's health at risk​

Celine Gounder, MD, an infectious disease specialist and senior fellow at KFF, said on X that the losses leave the CDC with a leadership vacuum at a critical time. "Already this year, 25% of CDC staff have been laid off, including many center directors."

She pointed out that the three top officials who resigned yesterday, Debra Houry, MD, MPH, (chief science and medical officer), Demetre Daskalakis, MD, MPH (director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases), and Dan Jernigan, MD, MPH, (director of the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases), didn't have jobs lined up elsewhere.

"This isn't about making big pharma bucks. They jumped without a parachute. There is no plan B," she wrote. "They did this out of their sense of moral conscience & professional duty."

Health leaders, medical groups: CDC leader exodus puts nation's health at risk

www.cidrap.umn.edu

 

[dmac55]

Chaos inside CDC prompts massive staff walkout - Axios
Chaos inside CDC prompts massive staff walkout — Axios

 

[sds71]

Like Monarez, O’Neill is not a physician. As a Silicon Valley investor and entrepreneur, he worked on issues such as longevity, briefly serving as CEO of SENS Research Foundation, an antiaging organization. He was tapped in 2023 to serve on the board of directors for ADvantage Therapeutics, which is developing therapies to treat neurodegenerative conditions with a focus on Alzheimer’s disease.

O’Neill was a frequent critic of the CDC during the height of the coronavirus pandemic, arguing on social media that the agency had botched data collection, poorly communicated with the public and had too much influence.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/08/28/cdc-director-jim-oneill/

 

[Inthedetails]

Like Monarez, O’Neill is not a physician. As a Silicon Valley investor and entrepreneur, he worked on issues such as longevity, briefly serving as CEO of SENS Research Foundation, an antiaging organization. He was tapped in 2023 to serve on the board of directors for ADvantage Therapeutics, which is developing therapies to treat neurodegenerative conditions with a focus on Alzheimer’s disease.

O’Neill was a frequent critic of the CDC during the height of the coronavirus pandemic, arguing on social media that the agency had botched data collection, poorly communicated with the public and had too much influence.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/08/28/cdc-director-jim-oneill/

Behind a paywall for me.

Here's another source. bbm (how does the "White House" appoint anyone? Is that supposed to mean Trump appointed him?)

The White House has appointed Jim O’Neill, deputy secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, as the interim director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention following the departure of former CDC head Susan Monarez and several other senior officials, according to Washington Post.

White House names Jim O’Neill acting CDC director after Monarez ouster

The White House appointed HHS Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill as acting CDC director after Susan Monarez was dismissed.

www.fox5atlanta.com

 

[gremlin444]

Is CVS following the age restrictions?

jmopinion

Well, both my son and I have CVS accounts, so they know our ages.

It asks 2 questions--1) have you had Covid vaccine in the last 2 months and 2) "Do you have a condition that puts you at high risk for severe outcomes from COVID-19 virus?"

There is a clickable link that pops up the existing "high risk" conditions. If you click yes to question 2, it takes you to scheduling (after trying to get you to add in a flu shot).

 

[Teche]

Well, both my son and I have CVS accounts, so they know our ages.

It asks 2 questions--1) have you had Covid vaccine in the last 2 months and 2) "Do you have a condition that puts you at high risk for severe outcomes from COVID-19 virus?"

There is a clickable link that pops up the existing "high risk" conditions. If you click yes to question 2, it takes you to scheduling (after trying to get you to add in a flu shot).

View attachment 611543

I believe that most of us have puffed on a cigarette as a teen. That should qualify as a former smoker. Ha!

 

[Inthedetails]

I believe that most of us have puffed on a cigarette as a teen. That should qualify as a former smoker. Ha!

I had the same thought, lol.

jmo

 

[Betty P]

Behind a paywall for me.

Here's another source. bbm (how does the "White House" appoint anyone? Is that supposed to mean Trump appointed him?)

The White House has appointed Jim O’Neill, deputy secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, as the interim director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention following the departure of former CDC head Susan Monarez and several other senior officials, according to Washington Post.

White House names Jim O’Neill acting CDC director after Monarez ouster

The White House appointed HHS Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill as acting CDC director after Susan Monarez was dismissed.

www.fox5atlanta.com

He’s just an “entrepreneur “ with no background in science or medicine. That means he’s completely unqualified for the job. All he knows how to do is read financial reports and solicit investors. CDC has no need for investors, they need doctors and scientists.

This is getting scary. The CDC isn’t just essential for the country’s public health, it’s essential to national security.

 

[dmac55]

“The country’s largest pharmacy chain said it needed a C.D.C. panel to recommend the shots before it could offer them nationwide.”

CVS Holds Off on Offering Covid Vaccines in 16 States CVS Holds Off on Offering Covid Vaccines in 16 States

 

[Inthedetails]

“The country’s largest pharmacy chain said it needed a C.D.C. panel to recommend the shots before it could offer them nationwide.”

CVS Holds Off on Offering Covid Vaccines in 16 States CVS Holds Off on Offering Covid Vaccines in 16 States

Small comfort in that last line of the article:

“I don’t know anybody who’s not confused.”

Fingers crossed this works out. So far, it's the opposite of impressive, effective, or efficient federal leadership, imo.

jmopinion

 

[Inthedetails]

bbm

The Trump administration is facing rare bipartisan pushback for firing the director of the CDC, amid turmoil at the US’ top infectious disease agency that prompted dozens of staff to walk out of its headquarters in protest on Thursday....The Trump administration shows no sign of backing down, however.

Trump administration faces rare bipartisan pushback for firing CDC director

Susan Monarez was reportedly fired by Robert F Kennedy Jr but her lawyers say only Trump himself can remove her

www.theguardian.com

 

[Betty P]

“The country’s largest pharmacy chain said it needed a C.D.C. panel to recommend the shots before it could offer them nationwide.”

CVS Holds Off on Offering Covid Vaccines in 16 States CVS Holds Off on Offering Covid Vaccines in 16 States

Looks like I'm switching to another pharmacy. I read somewhere that physicians can order the vaccine and administer it themselves. For now, I'm going to begin wearing a mask while shopping, etc. again.

ETA: This probably isn't CVS's fault. Perhaps they don't want any legal liability for misinterpreting some very confusing rules that seem to change from week to week

 

[Gemmie]

“The country’s largest pharmacy chain said it needed a C.D.C. panel to recommend the shots before it could offer them nationwide.”

CVS Holds Off on Offering Covid Vaccines in 16 States CVS Holds Off on Offering Covid Vaccines in 16 States

Looks like prescriptions may be necessary in some states which is NOT good. For example, I'm over 65 and smoked in the (long ago) past. That "allows" me to get the vaccine. However, my old Dr would NOT approve me getting one 6 months after getting one because "they don't go by the CDC recommendations". Yes, I've changed Drs and moved on to another practice, but I haven't met with them yet and don't know if they'll be the same way. "Sorry, can't have one just because you want one". This is getting VERY unsettling.

The states where CVS is requiring a prescription are Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia, along with the District of Columbia, according to Ms. Thibault.

Based on The Times’s attempts to book appointments, Walgreens appears to require prescriptions in Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia, Washington State, West Virginia and Wisconsin. In many states, appointments were unavailable, but it was not clear whether that was because of state laws or a lack of immediate vaccine supply.

Pharmacies have traditionally been a crucial access route to the Covid vaccine, accounting for a vast majority of shots given last year. The CVS and Walgreens moves are strong signals that federal decisions could reduce access more than the restrictions laid out on paper — not everyone has access to a doctor to obtain a prescription, for example — and the confusion is likely to crop up at other pharmacies as well, legal experts said.

Experts are themselves divided on what pharmacies can do, but they agree that the choices are hard.

C.D.C. Uncertainty Upends Covid Vaccine Access at CVS and Walgreens

State laws and regulatory chaos are driving the country’s largest pharmacy chains to require prescriptions or hold back altogether unless a C.D.C. panel acts.

www.nytimes.com

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5471327-autism-epidemic-kennedy-trump/

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Tuesday he’s on track to identify “interventions” that are “certainly causing autism” and possible ways of addressing them by September.

In April, Kennedy vowed to find the cause of growing rates of autism, calling it an “epidemic” that “dwarfs the COVID epidemic.”

President Trump asked Kennedy for a progress update during a Cabinet meeting Tuesday, saying, “The autism is such a tremendous horror show. What’s happening in our country and some other countries, but mostly our country. How are you doing?”

“We are doing very well,” Kennedy responded. “We will have announcements as promised in September, finding interventions, certain interventions, now that are clearly almost certainly causing autism. And we’re going to be able to address those in September.”...

I think we all know very well where this is going. Heaven, help us!

 

[Inthedetails]

Looks like prescriptions may be necessary in some states which is NOT good. For example, I'm over 65 and smoked in the (long ago) past. That "allows" me to get the vaccine. However, my old Dr would NOT approve me getting one 6 months after getting one because "they don't go by the CDC recommendations". Yes, I've changed Drs and moved on to another practice, but I haven't met with them yet and don't know if they'll be the same way. "Sorry, can't have one just because you want one". This is getting VERY unsettling.

The states where CVS is requiring a prescription are Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia, along with the District of Columbia, according to Ms. Thibault.

Based on The Times’s attempts to book appointments, Walgreens appears to require prescriptions in Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia, Washington State, West Virginia and Wisconsin. In many states, appointments were unavailable, but it was not clear whether that was because of state laws or a lack of immediate vaccine supply.

Pharmacies have traditionally been a crucial access route to the Covid vaccine, accounting for a vast majority of shots given last year. The CVS and Walgreens moves are strong signals that federal decisions could reduce access more than the restrictions laid out on paper — not everyone has access to a doctor to obtain a prescription, for example — and the confusion is likely to crop up at other pharmacies as well, legal experts said.

Experts are themselves divided on what pharmacies can do, but they agree that the choices are hard.

C.D.C. Uncertainty Upends Covid Vaccine Access at CVS and Walgreens

State laws and regulatory chaos are driving the country’s largest pharmacy chains to require prescriptions or hold back altogether unless a C.D.C. panel acts.

www.nytimes.com

My hunch is if you ask a doctor for the covid shot, s/he will provide one or give a prescription to take elsewhere. Doctors are allowed to go "off label." I'm thinking you won't have to come up with a reason as doctors are mosly pro-vaccine and can use their professional discretion to provide vaccines for those who want it.

I hope that is the case.

jmo

 

[Inthedetails]

https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5471327-autism-epidemic-kennedy-trump/

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Tuesday he’s on track to identify “interventions” that are “certainly causing autism” and possible ways of addressing them by September.

In April, Kennedy vowed to find the cause of growing rates of autism, calling it an “epidemic” that “dwarfs the COVID epidemic.”

President Trump asked Kennedy for a progress update during a Cabinet meeting Tuesday, saying, “The autism is such a tremendous horror show. What’s happening in our country and some other countries, but mostly our country. How are you doing?”

“We are doing very well,” Kennedy responded. “We will have announcements as promised in September, finding interventions, certain interventions, now that are clearly almost certainly causing autism. And we’re going to be able to address those in September.”...

I think we all know very well where this is going. Heaven, help us!

Autism is not growing! It exists like it has always existed.

That's like saying left-handedness grew and become an epidemic when schools stopped forcing left-handed kids to use their right-hand. That didn't mean left-handed people suddenly grew in numbers but that the culture decided to recognize them as left-handed.

jmopinion

 

[Gemmie]

My hunch is if you ask a doctor for the covid shot, s/he will provide one or give a prescription to take elsewhere. Doctors are allowed to go "off label." I'm thinking you won't have to come up with a reason as doctors are mosly pro-vaccine and can use their professional discretion to provide vaccines for those who want it.

I hope that is the case.

jmo

Except as I said... mine wouldn't allow a 2nd shot, 6 months after receiving one, because "We don't follow CDC recommendations". That's when I prayed that covid vaccines would NEVER require a prescription. It's not anyone's business but mine. And it's DEFINITELY not the business of my Dr to tell me NO when I'm doing something positive for MY health.

She is the same Dr that wouldn't write me an excuse to get out of jury duty, even though it was stressing me out to think I'd have to sit, shoulder to shoulder, for hours, and even days, with a bunch of maskless strangers. Her response... "

How dare her. I've moved on and wish bad things on her (like Covid that turns into long covid which might make her think about telling me no. No vaccine for you to protect yourself, and hey, I want you to sit for endless hours with a bunch of maskless strangers, even though you are really stressed about it). Yep. That's my wish for her.

 

[Gemmie]

Hot off the press. ""

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved updated Covid-19 vaccines, but for a limited group: adults 65 and older, and younger people who are at higher risk from Covid-19. Federal officials insist the shots remain available to everyone, but experts sat that claim is misleading, as the more narrow approval may raise significant barriers to access for many Americans.

To get an updated Covid-19 vaccine for the upcoming respiratory virus season, healthy children and adults younger than 65 will need to get it prescribed “off-label” — the practice of using a medical product outside of the terms for which the FDA has explicitly approved it.

https://view.newsletters.cnn.com/messages/1756483706290d433156a6c98/raw?

 

[Betty P]

My hunch is if you ask a doctor for the covid shot, s/he will provide one or give a prescription to take elsewhere. Doctors are allowed to go "off label." I'm thinking you won't have to come up with a reason as doctors are mosly pro-vaccine and can use their professional discretion to provide vaccines for those who want it.

I hope that is the case.

jmo

IIRC, RFK, Jr was making threatening noises to doctors the other day if they did this. He seems to make up a lot of things to back up his threats, though.

RFK Jr. Warns Docs of Liability if They Stray From CDC on Vaccines

'Misleading,' expert says

www.medpagetoday.com

If only they were as passionate about universal health care access in the US as they are about vaccines.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

When we know that this season's flu shot is available at Meijer, DH and I will schedule appointments. We will hold off on the new Covid shot until late November or early December - closer to our cruise in late January. I know that some people get both shots at the same time, but we're not in that club