What Next | Daily News and Analysis Can You Get a COVID Vaccine?
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Sep 8, 2025 
Apoorva Mandavilli is a Science and Global Health reporter at the New York Times, shedding light on the current chaos in the CDC amid Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s leadership. The podcast discusses the backlash against vaccine guidelines and the challenges of access during a Senate hearing. Apoorva dives into the rising skepticism surrounding COVID-19 vaccinations, the complexities of state policies, and the urgent need for reforms within public health systems. The conversation reveals how political turmoil is impacting public trust and vaccine availability.
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Leadership Upheaval Weakened CDC
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s leadership has caused major upheaval at HHS and CDC, including firings and resignations.
- This disruption has weakened federal public health capacity and preparedness.
Vaccine Access Is Fragmented
- Vaccine access is becoming uneven as major pharmacy chains limit availability in many states.
- Customers report pharmacies requiring prescriptions and refusing to carry COVID shots in around 16 states.
Staff Cuts Removed Expertise
- A major HHS reorganization cut roughly 10,000 staff and many contracts, shrinking agency capacity.
- The CDC lost institutional expertise and contractor support needed to run programs.