WASHINGTON – President Trump on Monday urged pharmaceutical companies to publicly prove that their Covid-19 products work, saying in a Truth Social post that the Centers for Disease control and Prevention is “being ripped apart over this question.”
“I want the answer, and I want it NOW,” he wrote in what appeared to be his first public acknowledgement of recent tumult at the CDC.
Drug companies have long shared findings with government regulators and the public showing that their Covid-19 products are overwhelmingly safe and effective.In his post, Trump said he has been shown data demonstrating the vaccines and drugs are effective and have saved millions of lives, but he accused the companies behind the products of not sharing that data publicly – or with officials at the CDC.
Trump used the post, wich comes five days after the ousting of Susan Moarrez as director of the CDC and resignation of several other top officials to urge companies to “clear up this MESS, one way or the other.”
Health secretary Robert F. kennedy Jr. has tried to move on after pushing out a CDC director,less than 30 days into her tenure,over vaccine policy. In an email to agency staff on Thursday, Kennedy pledged to continue what he has described as a mission to restore trust to the agency, touting “meaningful progress” already.
Public health experts,physicians,researchers,as well as current and former CDC employees,have said that Kennedy’s approach as well as cuts to both spending and staff have already hobbled the agency, warning that matters will worsen if he is allowed to continue.
Trump’s support will be crucial to the success of K.