Erica Schwartz

“I will follow the science wherever it leads, Senator. You have my commitment on that,”

Erica Schwartz · said 2026-07-15 · reported 2026-07-15

Schwartz responded to Sen. Patty Murray's point that the former CDC director was fired for refusing to rubberstamp Kennedy's vaccine committee decisions.

“We would look at the evidence. Where are they getting the evidence? Are these randomized, controlled trials? Are these cohort studies? Are these test-negative design studies? We would make sure we understood the weight of the evidence that they use to make those recommendations, and if the weight of the evidence isn’t there, or if the science is questionable, you have my commitment that I would not at all, ever, agree to those recommendations.”

Erica Schwartz · said 2026-07-15 · reported 2026-07-15

Schwartz detailed to Sen. Bill Cassidy how she would evaluate the evidence behind ACIP recommendations.

“I would never, ever accept ACIP recommendations without doing a deep dive into what those recommendations are or were,”

Erica Schwartz · said 2026-07-15 · reported 2026-07-15

Schwartz reiterated to Sen. Bill Cassidy that she would stick to the science on ACIP recommendations.

“The secretary would never ask me to do that,”

Erica Schwartz · said 2026-07-15 · reported 2026-07-15

Schwartz responded when asked if she would commit to approving vaccine committee recommendations regardless of evidence if asked by HHS Secretary Kennedy.