Senate Committee Questions CDC and HHS Nominees on Vaccine Policy

Senators questioned two nominees for senior public health posts about their positions on vaccines and possible pressure from the secretary of Health and Human Services. The nominees were Dr. Erica Schwartz, selected to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Sean Kaufman, chosen to head the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response.

Both appeared before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

Senators asked Schwartz whether she would resist pressure to limit vaccine recommendations. They cited the earlier removal of a prior CDC nominee after disputes over childhood vaccine schedules. Schwartz said she did not expect such pressure and pledged to follow scientific evidence. She declined to answer hypothetical questions about future decisions.

Kaufman told the committee that his children had received the infant dose of the Hepatitis B vaccine. He said people who reported adverse effects from COVID-19 vaccines should receive recognition and care. Kaufman also stated that mRNA technology remains promising for future pandemic preparedness.

He clarified that earlier comments criticizing the CDC referred to specific pandemic-era decisions, not the agency's staff.

Schwartz said her first priority would be meetings with career scientists to address internal trust issues. She added that the CDC should focus on infectious disease prevention and reduce broader activities amid budget constraints.