President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, a health economist and critic of pandemic lockdowns and vaccine mandates, to lead the National Institutes of Health. In a statement, Trump announced that Bhattacharya will work closely with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has been chosen to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. The goal is to restore the NIH to a “Gold Standard of Medical Research” and address America’s health challenges. Bhattacharya, known for his involvement in the Great Barrington Declaration and opposition to lockdowns, argues that vaccine mandates undermine public trust in the health system.
The nomination of Bhattacharya, along with O’Neill as deputy secretary of HHS, is part of Trump’s plan to shake up public health agencies with outsiders. Bhattacharya, who has faced restrictions on social media platforms for his views, believes in prioritizing herd immunity and protecting high-risk populations, while supporting individual choice over mandates. The NIH, with a $48 billion budget, plays a crucial role in funding medical research on various diseases, including the rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines.
The appointment of Bhattacharya and other key health officials by Trump reflects ongoing debates on public health policy, especially in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. While his nomination will need Senate approval, Bhattacharya’s selection marks a significant shift in the leadership of the nation’s premier medical research agency.
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