REMARKS
Council Member Schulman addresses federal changes impacting public health
0:03:59
ยท
108 sec
Council Member Schulman expresses concern about recent federal changes and their potential impact on public health policies and practices.
- Highlights the U.S. withdrawal from the World Health Organization
- Discusses the unavailability of critical public health information on federal agency websites
- Expresses alarm about the appointment of a vaccine skeptic to lead the Department of Health and Human Services
- Mentions the HHS Secretary's plan to reexamine the U.S. vaccination schedule
- Emphasizes the need for science-based approaches to public health policy
Lynn Schulman
0:03:59
These recent events come at a time of immense uncertainty and rapid changes in how our federal government approaches public health.
0:04:06
No longer can we rely on our federal public health institutions to utilize best practices and follow the science when they adopt new policies impacting the health of millions of Americans.
0:04:18
Instead of strengthening our disease detection and prevention partnerships across the globe, The United States has begun the process of leaving the World Health Organization, jeopardizing our ability to detect emerging outbreaks and adequately prepare for future pandemics.
0:04:33
Instead of ensuring that health care providers and researchers have access to a comprehensive database of critical public health information, hundreds of federal agency websites from the CDC to the FDA to Health and Human Services remain unavailable, hampering the ability of medical professionals to access the latest information and provide the best care.
0:04:54
This is particularly alarming as it relates to removed information and guidance for people living with HIV.
0:05:00
And instead of promoting childhood vaccinations and educating Americans on the importance of getting regular immunizations against preventable diseases, this federal administration has appointed a long time vaccine skeptic and conspiracy theorist to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, threatening access to lifesaving immunizations and medications that our society has counted on for decades to keep us healthy.
0:05:23
And by the way, yesterday the new HHS secretary said that he was gonna reexamine the vaccination schedule for The United States.
0:05:32
At this time of uncertainty, it is more important than ever that we can count on our local and state government officials to promote New York's health and well-being and that our public health agencies rely on science and evidence, not politics, in their approach to public health policy.