The CDC needs new leadership, not reorganization

Written by washingtonexaminer.com on August 24, 2022. Posted in Current News

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky admitted this week that her agency made “some pretty dramatic public mistakes” handling the coronavirus, promising to “pivot” the organization so that it can better provide information to ordinary people.

But communication was never the CDC’s real problem.

That was its arrogant and politicized leadership, which was unable to tell the truth.

That is why no one trusts the CDC anymore or cares much for its guidance, whatever it happens to be.

The cure begins with Walensky’s resignation.

“I can assure you that this is free from political meddling,” Walensky said when her agency issued guidelines on school reopening in February 2021. Those guidelines led many school districts to continue remote learning policies that have since proven disastrous for children’s education.

Why was this damaging decision made? Emails later obtained through the Freedom of Information Act show that Walensky’s claim was false: The CDC’s school guidelines were completely infused with political meddling.

Leaders of the American Federation of Teachers, a union that had heavily backed President Joe Biden’s election campaign, extensively lobbied the CDC to alter school guidelines so that teachers would not have to go back to the classroom.

Walensky dutifully incorporated her AFT political masters’ changes into the CDC’s policy. As a direct result of this political meddling, millions of children were prevented from receiving in-person education, resulting in immense learning loss.

The educational harm Walensky caused is already sufficient grounds for her defenestration. But there is so much more.

Walensky also falsely claimed that vaccinated people don’t spread the coronavirus. Her agency hid COVID data from the public.

She first said there would be a federal vaccine mandate, then claimed there wouldn’t be one, and then supported President Biden when he finally did try to institute one, which was also overturned by the Supreme Court.

Should people stay 6 feet or 3 feet apart to socially distance? Dr. Walensky took both positions, neither of which was ever based on any actual science. The CDC’s decision to shorten the isolation period from 10 days to five days for those exposed to COVID was also science-free.

The CDC’s function is dependent upon the agency enjoying the public’s trust.

More than 18 months of flip-flops and transparently political decision-making have undermined the CDC’s credibility. The agency desperately needs to earn that credibility back.

The best way to start is by holding its current leadership accountable.

See more here: washingtonexaminer

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