President Donald Trump made controversial statements at a recent White House news conference, blaming the painkiller Tylenol and childhood vaccines for the rise in autism, without providing any evidence to support his claims. This comes on the heels of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, now populated with vaccine skeptics and opponents, changing long-standing recommendations.
Julie Rovner, host of KFF Health News’ weekly health policy news podcast “What the Health?” interviews Demetre Daskalakis, the former head of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, to discuss the reaction to these unprecedented actions.
As the government faces a potential shutdown due to Congress being at a standstill over funding for the new fiscal year starting October 1, the Trump administration has directed federal agencies to not only furlough workers but to fire them if their jobs do not align with the president’s priorities.
This week’s panelists, including Julie Rovner, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, and Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call, discuss several key takeaways from the current political climate:
– The federal Office of Management and Budget has sent a memo to government agencies asking for contingency plans in case of a shutdown, including mass firings of employees whose programs do not align with Trump’s priorities.
– The likelihood of a government shutdown is high, with the House passing a stopgap funding measure before adjourning until after September 30, leaving the Senate in a difficult position.
– Interparty strife between Republicans and Democrats is evident, with both sides vying for advantage in potential shutdown blame.
– Recent events surrounding the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and the White House’s statements on autism have caused confusion and chaos.
– The Trump administration’s new $100,000 fee for H-1B visas could impact healthcare professionals coming to the U.S. for training.
– Trump’s pricing policy for drug companies aims to lower drug prices in the U.S. by increasing prices in other countries, but negotiations with drugmakers are ongoing.
Additionally, the panelists recommend health policy stories for further reading, including topics on vaccine courts, state abortion laws, and psychiatric hospital violations. The podcast “What the Health?” can be accessed on various platforms for more in-depth coverage of health issues.
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