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Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Brenda Fitzgerald has evaded several questions from Republican Senators about potential legislative action to address the controversial “Measles, Mumps, and Rubella” mandate, which includes essential workers such as nurses, caretakers, and hospital administrators.
In an interview on MSNBC last week, Fitzgerald said the CDC was closely watching Congressional hearings into the vaccines mandates.
Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) asked Fitzgerald why the CDC had not made any public statements since it left Washington on November 30th.
Roberts asked Fitzgerald why the CDC had not indicated whether it was “supportive” of the CDC Director’s obligation to sign vaccine waivers.
Fitzgerald responded that the CDC had not decided on the best approach for responding to the legislation. “Let’s have a conversation,” she said. “I have to do more work on that, just have to figure that out.”
Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) asked Fitzgerald how the CDC would address the “poisonous” concept of mandatory vaccinations, such as mandating all vaccines at age ten for children entering kindergarten.
“You have a person with a positive reaction on a chemical we administer…do you then just say, well, you can just avoid that poison if you don’t want it?” said Ernst.
“That is not what we’re asking,” said Fitzgerald. “This has been an evolving effort and the Department of Health and Human Services is making that effort. We’re going to look at a number of options to look at this issue of…diverse populations, youth as well as adults.”
Watch that exchange below:
“Big Fan” actress Jenny McCarthy, a vocal opponent of vaccinations, has been pressing Congress to enact mandatory vaccinations for years.
“Senators are saying, listen, we are very concerned about this issue and we really want to address it,” says McCarthy, who recently launched an internet movement called “Measles Avengers.”
McCarthy’s views are held by an amalgam of fringe politicians, unvaccinated doctors, anti-vaccination bloggers, and celebrity activists.
On November 29th, Jenny McCarthy held a meeting with Senate lawmakers including Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA).
“I know you’re sort of apolitical,” said McCarthy at the beginning of the meeting. “Senator Feinstein is bringing in a few guests as well.”
