Biden selects vaccine advocate as new CDC chief.

President Biden Chooses Dr. Mandy Cohen as CDC Director

President Joe Biden has selected Dr. Mandy Cohen, a strong advocate for COVID-19 vaccines, to lead the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This decision comes as the current director prepares to step down later this month.

Describing Cohen as one of the nation’s top physicians and health leaders, Biden expressed confidence in her ability to protect Americans’ health and safety. Cohen, who previously served as the top health official in North Carolina, brings a wealth of experience to the role.

Before joining Aledade, a healthcare company, Cohen worked in the federal government’s Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services during the Obama administration. She is set to take over from Dr. Rochelle Walensky, who praised Cohen’s leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic and her ability to tackle future public health challenges.

Vaccine Proponent

Throughout her tenure in North Carolina’s government, Cohen consistently advocated for COVID-19 vaccines, prioritizing their benefits while downplaying concerns about side effects. She urged the public to take action by staying home, avoiding crowds, wearing masks, and getting vaccinated.

Although clinical trials showed efficacy against symptomatic infection, the vaccines did not provide evidence of protection against infection or transmission, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Despite evidence of waning protection, Cohen maintained that the vaccines were remarkably effective and encouraged booster shots.

Cohen also supported COVID-19 vaccine mandates and took measures to enforce lockdown orders. However, she has not publicly discussed the vaccines since late 2021.

Flailing Trust

Despite the CDC’s recommendation for vaccination, the public’s trust in the vaccines remains low. Only a small percentage of children under 4 have received the vaccine, along with a fraction of the general population.