Trump’s new anti-vaccine persona could have far-reaching consequences if he’s elected to a second stint as president with far-reaching administrative powers.
Trump and his wife, Melania, received the Covid-19 shot and in 2021 encouraged “everyone” to “go get your shot.” | Win McNamee/Getty Images Trump’s campaign did not answer specific questions about what other vaccine policies the former president would or would not adopt, or whether he would consider appointing vaccine-skeptical individuals. The campaign pointedFormer Trump administration officials argue some policy changes are needed to address concerns about how the government communicated with the public during the pandemic and that those policies aren’t anti-vaccine.
“If he appoints any of those Fox News talking heads in a leadership position of the CDC or NIH or FDA, absolutely they could do a lot of damage,” said Peter Hotez, co-director of the Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development. Such a move would likely have immediate impacts on states, many of which point directly to CDC and ACIP recommendations in their immunization statutes. The CDC puts out