President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, David Weldon, is expected to recommend measles vaccines for children during his confirmation hearing with lawmakers on Thursday, according to Bloomberg News. Weldon, a physician and former Republican congressman, will face questions from the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions regarding his past criticism of vaccines amidst the growing threats of measles and bird flu. His prepared testimony, as reported by Bloomberg, emphasized his focus on rebuilding public trust in the CDC. If confirmed, Weldon would oversee the agency’s $17.3 billion budget to address both domestic and international public health emergencies. During his time in Congress, Weldon disputed the safety of childhood vaccines and promoted a discredited link between vaccines and autism.
