Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claimed without evidence that antidepressants could have contributed to the mass shooting in Minnesota on Wednesday after an attacker opened fire on a church.
Why it matters: The unsubstantiated antidepressant medication claim is another example of Kennedy floating ideas that contradict established science.
The Department of Health and Human Services attempted to oust CDC director Susan Monarez, but she's not going down without a fight.
Why it matters: Under Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the HHS has made a number of controversialmovesdenounced by the medical and science communities — particularly on vaccines where Kennedy has put up new barriers — causing friction between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and HHS.
Dozens of staff members and leaders at the CDC staged a walkout Thursday in response to the internal shake-up of top federal health officials.
Why it matters: The CDC has been grappling with internal turmoil that escalated Wednesday, when its director was ousted and other officials exited in a wave of resignations.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. could emerge in an even stronger position due to the fallout from the resignations and turmoil atop the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The big picture: The upheaval from the ousting of CDC Director Susan Monarez will make it difficult to win Senate confirmation for any administration nominee who's willing to sign off on Kennedy's controversial vaccine policy changes.
The Big Ten conference and Abbott are hosting a blood donation competition with NFL legend Drew Brees.
Why it matters: Thirteen of the 15 community blood centers in the Midwest (where most Big Ten schools are located) have a blood supply of less than three days.
Sycamore Partners completed its $23.7 billion takeover of Walgeens Boots Alliance, whose shares no longer will trade on the Nasdaq.
Why it matters: One of the nation's largest pharmacy chains is now owned by a private equity firm with no health care experience, as Sycamore has focused exclusively on retail.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Wednesday gave medical schools less than two weeks to "immediately" add more nutrition education to their curricula.
Why it matters: Kennedy previously threatened the schools with loss of funding if they don't beef up their nutrition education as part of his "Make America Healthy Again" agenda, which also includes a planned revamp of federal dietary guidelines.
Health SecretaryRobert F. Kennedy Jr.'s new COVID vaccine policy continues a steady drip of moves that are incrementally raising barriers to accessing shots.
It rewrites pandemic-era rules by narrowing the groups who can get the shots without a prescription — and will make everyone else jump through more hoops to stay COVID-free.
Centers for Disease Control director Susan Monarez has abruptly left the post just weeks after being sworn in, the Department of Health and Human Services announced on Wednesday — a claim that was immediately disputed by her lawyers.
Why it matters: The dispute has left the leadership of the CDC in limbo as a wave of high-level departures gutted the top ranks of the agency that's responsible for protecting the nation's public health.
