Weldon Blames "Big Pharma" for Failed CDC Nomination

Weldon Blames "Big Pharma" for Failed CDC Nomination

Dave Weldon, a former congressman whose nomination to head the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) was withdrawn by the White House, has blamed "Big Pharma" for influencing two Republican senators to vote against him.

Weldon, a physician who has expressed skepticism about the safety of certain vaccines, was scheduled to appear before the Senate health committee for his confirmation hearing. However, just 12 hours before the hearing, he was informed that he did not have enough votes to be confirmed.

Weldon believes that Republican Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana voted against him due to pressure from "Big Pharma." He claims that the pharmaceutical industry feared his potential influence at the CDC, given his skepticism of some vaccines and his belief that the CDC has a conflict of interest due to its ties to the industry.

Weldon claims that Collins' office was "hostile" towards him during a meeting, accusing him of being "anti-vax." He also alleges that Cassidy, whom he considered a friend, requested that his nomination be withdrawn. Cassidy's office denies this claim, stating that the decision to withdraw the nomination was not made in response to any request from the senator.

Weldon and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the son of the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy, share similar views on vaccines. Both men have raised concerns about the safety of certain vaccines and have questioned federal regulations. Weldon, while serving in Congress, expressed concerns about the CDC's control over vaccines, believing that the agency has a conflict of interest due to its ties to "Big Pharma."

In his letter, Weldon claims that if he had been confirmed to head the CDC, he could have conducted research to investigate why some children have adverse reactions to the MMR vaccine. He also praises a discredited study by Andrew Wakefield, which falsely linked vaccines to autism in children.