Ex-Surgeon General says CDC director nominee will be under pressure to follow RFK on vaccines

CBS News
April 19, 2026
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3 min read

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Former Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams warns CDC director nominee Dr. Erica Schwartz will face pressure on vaccine policy.

How This Affects You

This situation could influence the direction of public health guidance on vaccines, potentially affecting health policies that impact Americans.

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Dr. Jerome Adams, a former Surgeon General, stated that Dr. Erica Schwartz, the new nominee to head the CDC, will face pressure to align with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s views on vaccines. Adams, who served in the first Trump administration, praised Dr. Schwartz but warned of an ideological challenge within a "vaccine-skeptical HHS." This suggests that the incoming CDC director may be compelled to prioritize ideology over scientific evidence regarding vaccine policy. The warning highlights potential conflicts between public health guidance and the administration's stance on vaccination. This situation could influence the direction of the CDC under President Trump's second term.

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