Sen. Bill Cassidy expects Dr. Erica Schwartz to secure confirmation as CDC lead after the administration updates vaccine and autism website language.
Sen. Bill Cassidy indicated on Thursday that Dr. Erica Schwartz is expected to win the necessary votes to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Senate health committee delayed the official vote due to attendance issues but signaled progress following assurances from the administration. To secure the nomination, the administration modified the CDC’s website to clarify that the claim "vaccines do not cause autism" is not evidence-based. Sen. Bill Cassidy noted that while the agency needs to reassure the public on vaccine safety, the updated webpage serves as a significant sign of good faith. The committee also reviewed the nomination of Sean Kaufman for the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response. Sen. Bill Cassidy expressed lingering concerns regarding Kaufman’s past remarks on immunizations, which contributed to his own recent reelection loss after he sparred with the administration over vaccine rhetoric. The committee plans to reconvene next week to vote on the health care nominees and the nomination of Keith Sonderling.