Dr. Dave Weldon, a physician and former U.S. Congressman, recently shared a startling perspective on the state of public health agencies. Speaking at a conference, he revealed a growing disconnect between organizations like the CDC and the very people they are meant to serve.
Dr. Weldon’s journey began with years practicing internal medicine in Florida, followed by fourteen years in the House of Representatives where he served on the health committee – a position that gave him direct oversight of the CDC. It was during this time he first connected with Bobby Kennedy, a relationship forged through shared concerns about the direction of public health.
He recounted a pivotal moment when he was considered for the directorship of the CDC. Despite Kennedy’s support and a presidential endorsement, the nomination was unexpectedly withdrawn. Weldon believes powerful pharmaceutical interests exerted pressure on key Senators, effectively blocking his appointment.
The core of his concern centers on the current childhood vaccine schedule. Weldon highlighted a striking statistic: a full 90 percent of parents are currently opting out of the COVID-19 vaccine for their children. This widespread hesitancy, he argues, demonstrates a profound disconnect between the CDC’s recommendations and the desires of the American public.
This isn’t an isolated incident. Surveys reveal a deep-seated distrust in the CDC across the political spectrum, with 80 percent of Republicans and 40 percent of Democrats questioning the agency’s guidance. This level of skepticism is particularly alarming when contrasted with the high satisfaction rates people typically express with their individual doctors.
Weldon pointed out the irony: a 90 percent approval rating would be considered a failing grade for a doctor, yet the CDC faces approval ratings plummeting to between 40 and 80 percent. This widespread lack of trust, he insists, is a critical issue demanding attention.
Perhaps most troubling, Weldon asserted that these agencies routinely disregard the concerns of elected officials and, by extension, the will of the people. He described a pattern of bureaucratic defiance, where agencies operate with a troubling degree of independence from Congressional oversight.
This disregard for public opinion and elected representation, according to Dr. Weldon, represents a dangerous erosion of accountability within the nation’s health infrastructure – a system increasingly out of step with those it is designed to protect.