Nathaniel Weixel

Health reporter @thehill, former Hill Extra, former @BloombergBNA. New England transplant. RTs ≠ endorsements. Send tips to [email protected]

[Nathaniel Weixel @NateWeixel]

Hey guys, remember healthcare?

[Face The Nation @FaceTheNation]

“The MMR vaccine is not a lethal vaccine,” CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz says after President Trump claimed earlier this month the single-shot vaccination could be “quite lethal.”

When asked whether the increased costs of separating the vaccine into three shots would affect the agency’s “Vaccines for Children” program, he says, “We are going to pay for the vaccines no matter what.”

[David Weigel @daveweigel]

Log Cabin Republicans take the "T" out of LGBT.

Started using the trans-inclusive term in second Bush administration, so this is the door closing on a 20-year old policy.

[Nathaniel Weixel @NateWeixel]

Imported from where? Commitment from who?

[Jamie Dupree @jamiedupree]

Wonder how @BeefUSA and American ranchers feel about this one

[Eric Michael Garcia @EricMGarcia]

For all the talk of if "Woke 1 was crazyyyy," and whether Democrats will throw trans people under the bus, Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey made this statement signing a bill tying care for transgender people with abortion care.

"They’ve pulled tactics straight out of the Red Scare playbook to restrict transgender people’s healthcare"

[Chris Meekins @chrismeekins]

@l_e_whyte “Almost disqualifying” seems like a term one uses when there is a way even if small. He could have just said no and killed the nomination today. Weird to drag it out unless you see a path to yes.

[Nathaniel Weixel @NateWeixel]

"almost"

[U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. @SenBillCassidy]

While I respect Dr. Overton’s experience as a physician, I have strong concerns about her nomination to be FDA Commissioner. Her lack of managerial experience does not prepare her well for leading a large organization that is already dealing with staffing and morale issues. Additionally, Dr. Overton’s active role in last week’s nonsensical vaccine executive order calls into question her commitment to standing up for sound science and protecting children’s health. That alone is almost disqualifying.

[Nathaniel Weixel @NateWeixel]

On the one hand, heidi overton supports the admin's new pressure campaign on blue states to cut vax schedule. Cassidy's not gonna be a fan. On the other, she is vehemently anti-abortion, which he likes. All eyes on the lame duck from LA. Again.

[CNN Communications @CNNPR]

We stand firmly behind @KristenhCNN and reject these attacks in the strongest possible terms.

[Nathaniel Weixel @NateWeixel]

@maustermuhle has anyone done a post-pandemic version of this story?

[Nathaniel Weixel @NateWeixel]

maybe Karoline will work to pay down her campaign debt now? https://t.co/TjlAclpmm8

[Scott Gottlieb, MD 🇺🇸 @ScottGottliebMD]

Today’s schedule protects against more diseases than in the 1960s or 1980s, with 95% fewer antigens.

Antigen count doesn't predict every reaction, but it's more relevant than shot count to the concern that a larger schedule asks a child's immune system to recognize more targets

[Mike Demarest @Mike_Demarest]

Reminder there will be signs a media company is preparing to be sold or go public.

[Eric Michael Garcia @EricMGarcia]

The fact most prominent women in politics’ decision talked about how she wants to have a family in a time when countless women are doing the same isn’t “a totally irrelevant news story” post-Dobbs when abortion rights are being curtailed.

[Andrew Egger @EggerDC]

This is how you end up in free-floating moral panic territory. Miscarriages are horrible, terrible, agonizing. There is also a mountain of evidence that the COVID shots don't cause them. But now every pandemic-era miscarriage is supposedly blood on Fauci's hands.

[Matthew Herper @matthewherper]

This seems to be a pretty willful case of selective quoting -- Fauci does not seem to be suggesting this is a big concern, just an idea to be aware of.

Context: In the text thread, @vivek_murthy is asking @RWalensky about whether there are data regarding adverse outcomes of the mRNA vaccines in pregnancy, or any reason to advise giving the shots early in pregnancy or late in pregnancy.

Walensky calls the concerns "data free." Fauci replies:

"Agree with Rochelle. There are no data or theoretical reason to believe that vaccinating early versus later in pregnancy would be preferred. Yet, some people ( even female health care professionals) feel concerned about injecting a "genetic" vaccine very early in pregnancy. There is this misperception out there that we need to deal with that mRNA somehow can "get into your genes". When the misperception gets extended to an early developing fetus, the anxiety heightens."

It is very clear Fauci doesn't think there is any concern in that comment. Then he asks around, and someone raises another potential concern that future research should answer, and he includes it for completeness.

"I asked around a bit more and another issue came up that you need to be aware of. Since many people have significant cytokines storm and fever after the 2nd dose, this theoretically could be associated with miscarriage in the 1st trimester."

Then the next day, in the same text thread, he says this:

"I would say that in any vaccine in which data are lacking in pregnant women one must weigh the potential risks against the benefits. COVID-19 can be a serious disease especially in pregnancy. In the vaccine trials, pregnant women were not allowed but following the EUA, a large number (more than 10,000) pregnant women have been vaccinated. No issues have arisen. The FDA and the ACIP and the ACOG are all permissive for pregnant women to have a choice. Animal tox studies did not raise any red flags."

That's exactly what he said publicly. This is the most contemporaneous public statement Johnson cites, from a week later.

"[FDA] have found thus far and we have to be careful but thus far no red flags about that, about pregnant women.”

I also don't think there are any data supporting this concern. I'll include some relevant studies below.

[Nathaniel Weixel @NateWeixel]

@StevenTDennis It's not like this was some big secret plan.

[Nathaniel Weixel @NateWeixel]

He confirmed new CDC director after pressing her on standing up to RFKJ. Nice little bombshell for Trump and kennedy to drop into her lap on day 1

[U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. @SenBillCassidy]

I’m a doctor. This executive order is wrong. The President does not have the expertise to make these changes.

Vaccines are overwhelmingly safe. Vaccines are effective. Vaccines DO NOT cause autism.

Breaking up vaccines will mean children have to get more shots to get the same protection, not fewer shots. It will increase hesitancy and make children less safe.

Parents should listen to their child’s pediatrician about vaccines rather than listening to an inaccurate executive order. This is so wrong.

https://t.co/OBrUdakEor

[Nathaniel Weixel @NateWeixel]

Notably absent from this WH anti-vax announcement: @DrOzCMS. Since Erica Schwartz wont get sworn in until later this week, she isn't here. But would she be?

[Nathaniel Weixel @NateWeixel]

So much for the pre-midterm pivot away from vaccines

[Nathaniel Weixel @NateWeixel]

Dr. President Trump suggests giving the MMR shot is lethal ... but not if you spread them out?