Erica Schwartz, the new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shared insights into her working relationship with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during an interview with Atlanta News First. Schwartz expressed her willingness to disagree with Kennedy but emphasized that such discussions would remain private. “In uniformed services, we use the term ‘but sir, but ma’am,’ allowing us to disagree with superiors,” Schwartz explained. She mentioned that disagreements have occurred in private since she started working with Kennedy five weeks ago.
Despite potential disagreements, Schwartz acknowledged Kennedy’s authority as the Secretary of Health and Human Services. “At the end of the day, he is the Secretary of HHS and will make the final decisions,” Schwartz stated. Her comments contrast with former CDC director Susan Monarez, who was dismissed after challenging Kennedy’s vaccine views.
Schwartz, who served as deputy surgeon general under Trump and was a senior Coast Guard health official, supports childhood vaccinations. Her appointment aimed to stabilize the CDC. Yet, concerns remain about her ability to challenge Kennedy’s policies, especially amid the current measles outbreak. Schwartz faced criticism for excluding four measles-related deaths in Pennsylvania from CDC’s official records after Kennedy labeled the reports as “fabricated.” The controversy ties to a political conflict involving Pennsylvania’s governor.
Schwartz described the issue as a technical one, noting the lack of a standardized definition for measles-related deaths. She compared it with controversies around COVID-19 death classifications, highlighting differences in defining related deaths. Pennsylvania health officials use a classification similar to the CDC’s for respiratory virus deaths, excluding unrelated events like car crashes.
Additional health-related news include plans by all U.S. states, D.C., and Puerto Rico to seek Medicaid drug price reductions, according to recent statements. In Philadelphia, health alerts warn of possible measles exposure at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and the South Bronx reports a second death related to Legionnaires’ disease. Meanwhile, HHS Secretary Kennedy has voiced support for anti-vaccine groups, drawing attention to his past leadership with Children’s Health Defense.
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