1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

The nomination of David Weldon as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is deeply concerning due to his well-documented skepticism towards vaccines. Weldon has repeatedly questioned the safety of vital vaccines like measles, mumps, rubella and HPV, citing debunked theories linking them to autism. As a physician and former congressman, he should understand the immense public health benefits of vaccines, which have saved an estimated 154 million lives globally over the past 50 years according to the World Health Organization. Weldon's alignment with figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a founder of the anti-vaccine group Children's Health Defense, signals a potential shift towards undermining vaccine confidence and eroding decades of progress in immunization efforts. Their unfounded claims that vaccines are making children sicker contradict overwhelming scientific evidence of vaccine safety and efficacy. While the CDC director cannot unilaterally ban vaccines, Weldon could potentially influence vaccine policy by changing CDC recommendations and messaging in a way that amplifies vaccine hesitancy. He has previously advocated separating vaccine safety research from the CDC, citing perceived conflicts of interest. However, rigorous safety monitoring is already in place through entities like the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Public health experts have raised alarms about the dangers of Weldon's nomination. Emphasizing minuscule risks over the lifesaving benefits of vaccines would be a detriment to public welfare. A shift in this direction threatens to undermine hard-won progress against preventable diseases. I urge you to consider these grave implications and firmly oppose Weldon's appointment to lead the CDC.