Trump demands 'proof' vaccines work amid CDC turmoil
President Donald Trump is questioning COVID-19 vaccines and demanding drug companies prove they work, amid changes at the CDC.
Right Arrow News
President Donald Trump received flu and COVID-19 booster shots in advance of his upcoming trip, the president's physician announced Oct. 10.
Sean P. Barbabella, a U.S. Navy captain, shared the information in a letter submitted Friday to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
President Donald J. Trump today successfully completed a planned follow-up evaluation at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Barbabella wrote, saying the visit was part of the President's ongoing health maintenance plan and included advanced imaging, laboratory tests and preventative evaluations.
Last month, Trump demanded that COVID-19 vaccine makers provide proof of their effectiveness.
"Many people think it's a miracle that saved millions of lives. Others disagree!" he said of COVID-19 drugs such as vaccines made by Pfizer, Moderna and other pharmaceutical companies. "With the CDC torn on this issue, I want the answer, and I want it NOW."
Trump, 79, made the remarks in a Sept. 1 article on Truth Social after firing CDC Director Susan Monareza a month into his term after a dispute with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime vaccine skeptic.
In July, the president was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency that led to visible swelling in his lower legs, near his ankles.
On Friday, Barbabella said that in addition to Trump's flu and COVID booster shots, the president also received preventative health screenings, he said, adding that Trump continues to demonstrate excellent overall health.
Trump led the effort to accelerate the development of a COVID vaccine during his first term. But he has supported Kennedy's leadership at the Department of Health and Human Services so far, including the Food and Drug Administration's decision to restrict approval of COVID vaccines to Americans under 65, Kennedy's firing from the vaccine advisory committee and his claims linking autism to Tylenol and childhood vaccines. A recent poll found that only 1 in 4 Americans believe Kennedy's recommendations are based on scientific evidence.
The Food and Drug Administration announced changes to COVID-19 vaccine guidelines in late August, ending emergency use authorizations for COVID-19 vaccines and approving Moderna, Pfizer and Novavax vaccinations only for people over 65 and those with existing health conditions that put them at high risk.
The new guidelines represent the strictest restrictions on access to vaccines since vaccines became available.
Here is what was approved:
The Moderna, Pfizer and Novavax vaccinations have been approved only for "high-risk individuals" and people over 65. The Moderna vaccine has been approved for children 6 months and older with an underlying condition and people over 65 years old. Pfizer has been approved for people 5 years and older with an underlying condition and people over 65 years old.
Reuters contributed reporting to this story.
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