Blue Press Journal

Tag: covid-19

  • NY Post Unleashes Scathing Criticism on RFK Jr.: ‘Paranoid Kook’

    Blue Press Journal – In a stunning rebuke, the typically pro-Donald Trump New York Post has torn into Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., labeling him a “paranoid kook” whose views on vaccines are misguided and dangerous. The scathing editorial, published on Thursday, slammed Kennedy’s recent appearance at a Senate hearing, where he faced intense scrutiny over his vaccine policies.

    The Post’s editorial board, known for its conservative leanings, pulled no punches in their critique of Kennedy, stating that his “tinfoil hat is blocking out all sense” and that he “won’t be restoring sanity to our public-health bureaucracies.” The tabloid’s harsh words were a stark departure from its usual support for Trump and his administration.

    Kennedy, a vocal vaccine skeptic, has been a lightning rod for controversy since his appointment as HHS Secretary. His views on vaccines have been widely criticized by the medical community, and his appearance at the Senate hearing only seemed to exacerbate concerns. According to the Post, Kennedy’s testimony was marked by a bizarre and uninformed approach to public health, with the secretary coming across as “a paranoid kook connecting red strings on a whiteboard.”

    The editorial board argued that Kennedy’s leadership at HHS is a recipe for disaster, citing his refusal to acknowledge basic facts and his reliance on conspiracy theories. “America needs agencies like HHS and CDC moving toward a sane center, where decisions are based on data-informed evidence,” the Post concluded. “The more Kennedy opens his mouth, the more obvious it becomes that letting him call the shots is just trading one extreme for another.”

    The Post’s brutal takedown of Kennedy is a significant blow to the embattled HHS Secretary, who has already faced intense criticism from lawmakers and health experts. As the debate over vaccine policy continues to rage, the Post’s editorial serves as a stark reminder that Kennedy’s views are not only misinformed but also dangerous. With the nation’s public health at stake, it remains to be seen whether Kennedy will heed the Post’s warning and adopt a more evidence-based approach to vaccine policy.

  • RFK Jr.’s Vaccine Guidance Delays: Consequences for Public Health

    Until recently, many people may not have been familiar with the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the vaccine advisory panel of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). ACIP is essential in deciding which vaccines are administered to both children and adults, what insurance will cover, and which vaccines will be provided free of charge to millions of low-income children. Consequently, the panel’s decisions have a profound impact on the health of all Americans, with some choices potentially determining life or death.

    Recently, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took the extraordinary step of dismissing all 17 members of ACIP. Just two days later, he announced eight individuals he has selected to replace them. One of the newly appointed members, Vicky Pebsworth, has a background with the National Vaccine Information Center, an anti-vaccine organization. Her appointed raising clear questions on both qualifications and conflict of interests.

    Kennedy’s actions can be likened to a scenario where all air traffic controllers in the United States are abruptly fired and replaced by individuals who not only lack expertise in air traffic control but also harbor skepticism about flying itself. This analogy underscores the gravity of the situation.

    As of last week, the panel has yet to recommend a Covid-19 vaccine for the upcoming fall season. This lack of guidance is concerning as doctors rely on ACIP’s recommendations to order vaccines in a timely manner. The delay could lead to challenges in getting the necessary shots to those who need them, resulting in unnecessary hospitalizations and even potential fatalities. Rural family medicine practitioners, in particular, may find it difficult to stock vaccines, especially given the financial pressures they face.

    Members of ACIP convene at least three times a year to review scientific data on vaccines and establish recommendations for various age groups. If the CDC endorses ACIP’s recommendations, a vaccine may officially become part of the immunization schedule for both children and adults. For the average American, this could mean facing out-of-pocket expenses for crucial vaccines if their insurance only covers those recommended by ACIP. With rising costs for essentials like gas and groceries, this additional financial burden could be overwhelming.

    Ultimately, the choices made by RFK Jr. could result in tragic, preventable deaths, underscoring the urgent and vital necessity for informed, responsible leadership in vaccine policy.

  • Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Impact on Vaccine Policy: Negative

    Once again, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is allowing his personal, unproven anti-vaccine views to influence medical policy within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). He is creating new obstacles that will make it more difficult for people who want vaccinations to access them. 

    Recently, Kennedy bypassed the usual procedures to change recommendations regarding COVID-19 vaccinations. Additionally, he canceled hundreds of millions of dollars in pledged funding to Moderna, the mRNA vaccine developer, which was intended for developing, testing, and purchasing vaccines for pandemic influenza. Kennedy has been openly critical of mRNA vaccines, and HHS confirmed that the funding was withdrawn.

    Kennedy has a longstanding history of opposing vaccines. In 2021, he petitioned the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to revoke the emergency use authorizations of COVID-19 vaccines and threatened legal action if the agency continued to approve them.

    “We’re witnessing a complete circumvention of the nation’s leading public health agency,” said Richard Besser, former acting director of the CDC and president of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

    It’s important to recall Kennedy’s role during the measles outbreak, when cases surged past 700 and a second young child died in Texas from measles. Despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine to prevent such outcomes, Kennedy’s vaccine skepticism has contributed to declining vaccination rates.

    Furthermore, Kennedy has not implemented other recommendations from the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel, including the introduction of a new meningitis vaccine and expanding RSV vaccine eligibility to high-risk adults aged 50 to 59.

    The vaccine advisory panel is not scheduled to vote on COVID-19 vaccine recommendations until late June, potentially causing delays for manufacturers in preparing vaccines for the upcoming fall season.

    Many warned former President Trump against appointing Robert F. Kennedy Jr., cautioning about his controversial views. However, it appears that Kennedy’s public support for Trump’s presidency was linked to promises of him being appointed to HHS.

  • Concerns Raised on Trump’s New Covid-19 Policy

    The Trump administration’s recent decision to restrict access to seasonal COVID-19 shots to seniors and high-risk individuals is generating concerns about vaccine availability for the general population. This policy shift, awaiting further data on the broader population, raises questions about those who desire a booster but may not meet the “high-risk” criteria.

    The alarming restriction on the availability of vital vaccines has left the medical community deeply concerned that this may lead to a tragic rise in Covid-19-related deaths this fall. Medical experts are fervently questioning the reasoning behind such a troubling shift, advocating for action to protect lives.

    Under this new framework, the FDA will limit routine vaccine approvals to seniors and those with underlying health conditions unless clinical trials demonstrate the vaccine’s ability to prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death in healthy adults and children. Vaccine manufacturers are now being encouraged to conduct such trials to establish the vaccine’s value in these healthier demographics.

    Uncertainty also surrounds the status of individuals living with vulnerable, high-risk people. Caregivers and those sharing households with immunocompromised individuals may seek vaccination to protect their loved ones, yet they may not qualify under the revised FDA guidelines unless they themselves are at risk of severe illness.

    This restricted FDA approval is poised to significantly limit public access to COVID-19 vaccines and insurance coverage for these vital shots. Even as vaccination demand dwindles, the CDC warns that COVID-19 has tragically taken the lives of 30,000 to 50,000 adults since October, highlighting the relentless and overwhelming burden this virus continues to place on our healthcare system.

  • Robert F. Kennedy Jr. halts efforts to develop new COVID-19 vaccine

    Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a fantastic day spreading his anti-vaccine agenda on Wednesday. He decided to put a halt to efforts to develop a new COVID-19 vaccine and even managed to cancel the FDA’s planning meeting for the next flu season. Who needs vaccines anyway, right?

    Kennedy seems determined to make America sick again by pushing his harmful beliefs onto the public. He has a long history of criticizing the FDA and any attempts to create useful vaccines. His war on vaccines is both vocal and incredibly misinformed.

    During his latest rant, Kennedy spread lies and misinformation about measles, claiming there were more deaths linked to the recent cases than public health agencies have confirmed. He conveniently forgot to mention that the recent measles case in Texas is the first reported in the nation since 2015. But hey, who needs facts when you’re fear-mongering?

    It’s truly mind-boggling that Kennedy is ignoring the overwhelming evidence that vaccines save lives. The Texas Department of Health and Human Services reported 124 cases of measles since late January, all involving unvaccinated individuals. But sure, let’s continue to ignore science and put lives at risk because vaccines are just a big conspiracy, right?

    Let’s all thank Secretary Kennedy for his valiant efforts to make America sick again. Who needs modern medicine when you have baseless conspiracy theories to rely on? Bravo, Mr. Kennedy, bravo.

  • No to Vaccine, Crowd Really?

    The rapid development of effective COVID vaccines in less than a year during the pandemic was a groundbreaking achievement in the long history of vaccination. It seemed like we were finally entering an era where we could protect ourselves against infectious diseases.

    But hold on a second! Just when we thought we were making progress, President-elect Donald Trump decides to nominate an antivaccine activist, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., as the top health official in the nation. What could possibly go wrong, right?

    Now, we have infectious disease and public health experts warning us that we might be heading towards deadly epidemics of measles, whooping cough, meningitis, and even polio. All thanks to Kennedy and former House member Dave Weldon potentially leading the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

    These two geniuses, Kennedy and Weldon, have decided to endorse debunked theories linking vaccines to autism and other chronic diseases. Because who needs reputable scientific studies when you have these guys spreading misinformation, right? And let’s not forget Weldon’s star appearances in antivaccine films after leaving Congress. Bravo, gentlemen, bravo.

    The president-elect also appeared open to the groundbreaking polio vaccine being “looked at.”