NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya becomes third CDC head in under a year
The National Institutes of Health announced its director, Jay Bhattacharya, would also temporarily head the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The New York Times reports.
Bhattacharya is the third person to lead the CDC since President Donald Trump returned to the White House.
Last summer, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy fired then-CDC Director Susan Monarez less than a month after the Senate confirmed her nomination. After Monarez, Deputy Health Secretary Jim O’Neill served as acting director until last week.
Who is Jay Bhattacharya?
Before joining the administration, Bhattacharya worked as a health economist and Stanford University professor. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he became an outspoken critic of the shutdowns and vaccines.
During a recent Senate hearing, Bhattacharya claimed that childhood measles vaccines were “the best way to address the measles epidemic in this country.” He also claimed that there was no evidence that vaccines were linked to autism. The Trump administration has echoed claims that vaccines and even taking the over-the-counter pain reliever Tylenol can cause autism.
After Monarez’s firing, the White House said it was looking for a permanent replacement. However, officials have not released any nominations nearly a year after the termination. Whoever Trump picks to lead the CDC would still need Senate confirmation.
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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
