The Brain Worm is Winning!

 

by Pa Rock

Citizen Journalist

Scientists and public health officials are dropping like flies at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), our nation's premier research and policy institute for stopping the spread of  disease in the United States and around the globe, and protecting the health of people worldwide.  No, the agency isn't succumbing to some strange new virus, it is instead being beaten into submission by ignorance and political operatives who seem hellbent on trashing years of scientific research and medical advancement, and instead anchoring the health and well being of Americans, and those in the world beyond our borders, to crackpot medical advice posted to social media by conspiracy theorists and kooks.

The CDC, which is headquartered on its own "campus" consisting of several buildings in Atlanta, Georgia, came under physical attack on Friday, August 8th, when a young male gunman opened fire with a with an automatic rifle and sprayed some of the buildings with over 500 rounds of ammunition.  None of the agency's employees were hit, but the gunfire did kill one responding policeman.

The shooter claimed to be depressed and blamed his depression of COVID 19 vaccinations, a nonsense theory that originated and was spread on social media.

But that shooting was just an opening salvo in what is rapidly shaping up to be a full attack on our nation's disease prevention capabilities that seems to be rooted in the boss's office at the US Department of Health and Human Services.  Robert F. Kennedy, Jr, came to the world's attention over the past few years not as the eldest son of the former Us Attorney General and nephew of President Kennedy, but rather as a social media promoter of conspiracies that question modern  medical techniques and practices - such as the widespread use of vaccinations to combat the spread of disease.  

In Donald Trump's never-ending quest to "own the libs" and operate through shock announcements to keep his name in the news, he appointed the totally unqualified RFK, Jr. to head the US Department of Health and Human Services, which gave the former long-term heroin addict, parasitic brain worm survivor, and roadkill enthusiast an official government platform from which to spout his Facebook beliefs regarding the dangers of modern medicine.

In June Kennedy announced that he had removed (fired) every member (17 in total) of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) panel that was key to vaccine policy and access in America, and he replaced them with  eight people who are, by and large, vaccine skeptics.  Kennedy, in essence, reshaped the panel to give him the advice which he wanted to hear.  The reconstituted panel said at its June meeting that it would revisit some childhood immunization practices at its next meeting in September.

While some panic began to set in among the public with regard to the abrupt changes taking place at the top levels of our nation's healthcare system, many noted that a cadre of highly qualified scientists were still in charge overall, and they would keep American health and wellness from sinking into third world status. This past week, however, even that began to change - with a vengeance.

Donald Trump appointed Dr. Susan Monarez to head the Centers for Disease Control CDC one month ago.  Dr. Monarez holds a PhD in Microbiology and Immunology, has a strong background and expertise in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of infectious diseases,  and work experience in several government agencies.  In short, she was the perfect candidate for the job of heading the CDC, and the fact that Trump made such a wise choice was nothing short of astonishing.

But the extremely well qualified Dr. Monarez was immediately on a collision course with her boss at HHS, RFK, Jr, who gets his very limited medical expertise from social media.  Last week she and Kennedy locked horns, apparently as a result of her belief that HHS policies and practices should be rooted in science, and Kennedy told her to resign and or be fired - but Dr. Monarez declined to leave.  Eventually the White House got involved and Donald Trump, the man who had hired her initially, had to fire Dr. Monarez.  Trump quickly replaced her with one of Kennedy's assistants from HHS who lacks a medical background.

Okay, one major scientist down who was replaced by an office flunky who used to work for billionaire Peter Thiel.  That still leaves several really competent scientists to run the actual CDC, doesn't it?

Sadly, no.

When Dr. Monarez left the CDC last week, four very good and necessary people walked out right behind her.  The rapid departure list included:

• Debra Houry (Chief Medical Officer);
• Demetre Daskalikas  (Director, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases);
• Daniel Jernigan  (Director, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases);  and,
• Jennifer Layden (Director for National Public Health Data, Surveillance, and Technology).

The CDC has been decapitated.

The adults have left the building

The inmates are running the asylum!

Consult with your family physician regarding vaccinations for yourself and members of your family.