Rochelle Walensky

Media 3 hours ago

MSNBC doctor praises LA health officials over mask mandates: 'What is the harm ... to wear a mask indoors?'

MSNBC medical contributor Dr. Kavita Patel praised Los Angeles health officials on Friday following the city's decision to reinstate mask mandates for indoor spaces regardless of vaccination status.

Health 3 hours ago

'Virtually all' COVID-19 hospitalizations, deaths in US among unvaccinated, White House says

Virtually all COVID-19-related hospitalizations and deaths in the U.S. are occurring among unvaccinated people, Jeff Zients, the White House COVID-19 response coordinator, said Thursday, warning that there would likely continue to be increases in cases in areas with low vaccination rates as the Delta variant spreads.

Health 3 hours ago

CDC mask recommendations for vaccinated individuals 'remains unchanged,' Fauci says

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance that states fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear masks in indoor or outdoor settings “remains unchanged,” Dr. Anthony Fauci said Thursday.

Health 3 hours ago

What is myocarditis? Signs, symptoms to look for

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advisory panel is set to meet Wednesday to discuss reports of myocarditis and pericarditis in some COVID-19 mRNA vaccine recipients.

Health 3 hours ago

CDC director says benefits of COVID-19 vaccination ‘far outweigh’ risks of rare heart issues

Ahead of an anticipated CDC advisory panel meeting Wednesday relating to heart inflammation in a small fraction of vaccinated teens and young adults, head of the agency, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, suspects the data will reveal the benefits of vaccination far outweigh the risks of rare side effects and poor outcomes from COVID-19 disease.

Media 3 hours ago

New York Times puff piece calls CDC Director Rochelle Walensky 'fierce advocate' who 'follows the science'

The New York Times raised eyebrows with a glowing profile of CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, who's been widely criticized for her leadership during the coronavirus pandemic.

Health 3 hours ago

US not ready for next pandemic, top CDC official warns

A top official at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reportedly warned that the U.S. is no better off should another pandemic emerge than it was prior to the coronavirus.

Health 3 hours ago

'No magic target' to reach herd immunity, Walensky says

While President Joe Biden set a goal to have 70% of Americans receive at least one shot of a COVID-19 vaccine by July 4, the target doesn’t correlate to the concept of herd immunity, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) director said Thursday.

Health 3 hours ago

Walensky worried over uneven COVID-19 vaccination rates as summer approaches

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), expressed concern Wednesday that unvaccinated people will suffer preventable COVID-19 sickness and death due to the seasonality of the virus.

Health 3 hours ago

Walensky hopeful COVID-19 vaccine rate will make dent in virus transmission over Memorial Day weekend

As the U.S. approached holidays over the last year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) urged Americans to avoid travel and gatherings with nonhousehold members to prevent potential coronavirus spread. Now, the messaging from the agency has shifted with half of U.S. adults fully vaccinated.

Politics 3 hours ago

Biden keeps saying ‘follow the science,’ but how often does he?

It’s a line President Biden used on the 2020 presidential campaign trail and has returned to many times, including in nationally televised remarks after taking office and in March to staffers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, particularly when addressing the coronavirus pandemic or climate change.

Health 3 hours ago

Lingering fears in removing mask ‘understandable,’ Fauci, Walensky say

As fully vaccinated populations navigate new federal guidance dropping mask use and physical distancing indoors and outdoors in most settings, top officials with the White House COVID-19 Response Team say some lingering fears are rational, and the recommendations will take some getting used to.

Politics 3 hours ago

CDC Director Rochelle Walensky wears mask on Capitol Hill despite her agency's guidance

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky was photographed wearing a coronavirus face covering at a Senate subcommittee hearing Wednesday, days after her agency revised its guidance on mask-wearing to say inoculated individuals can return to some pre-pandemic normalcy.

Health 3 hours ago

600,000 kids ages 12-15 received COVID-19 vaccine, CDC says

The U.S. saw more than 600,000 adolescents ages 12 to 15 roll up their sleeves to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine following the recently expanded FDA emergency use authorization.

Health 3 hours ago

Fauci says he wore mask indoors to avoid 'giving mixed signals'

Dr. Anthony Fauci said the newly updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance for fully vaccinated people has helped him feel more comfortable not wearing a mask while indoors, and that prior to it he “didn’t want to look like I was giving mixed signals.”

Health 3 hours ago

What is breakthrough COVID and who's most at risk?

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, during a briefing Tuesday defended the agency’s updated approach to monitoring breakthrough coronavirus infections, or COVID-19 occurring after a person is fully vaccinated.

Health 3 hours ago

White House's Slavitt reveals son's long-COVID battle as he urges young people to get vaccinated

The White House’s senior COVID advisor Andy Slavitt made a personal pitch to young people to get vaccinated during a briefing on Tuesday, revealing that his own son has been dealing with symptoms of long-COVID since contracting the virus six months ago.

Health 3 hours ago

CDC’s Anne Schuchat announces retirement weeks after Messonnier's exit

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is losing another top official as Dr. Anne Schuchat, the agency’s deputy director, announced her retirement on Monday, Fox News confirmed.

Politics 3 hours ago

CDC director criticized for now differentiating between dying 'from’ vs. dying 'with' COVID-19

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky drew criticism on Sunday for her method of identifying COVID-19 deaths in the U.S., making a sudden distinction between those who died "from" the virus and those who died "with" the virus.

Health 3 hours ago

Walensky cites 'evolving data,' denies 'pressure' for sudden change in mask policy

Centers for Disease Control Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky insists that the new coronavirus guidance is solely based on science and not the product of pressure from politicians. 

Health 3 hours ago

CDC risk of coronavirus transmission outdoors greatly exaggerated, bombshell report finds

A stunning New York Times report claims that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's estimate that the risk of coronavirus transmission while outdoors is around 10% is greatly exaggerated. 

Health 3 hours ago

100M fully vaccinated against coronavirus, White House says

The U.S. has vaccinated 100 million eligible people against coronavirus, officials announced Friday. Jeff Zients, the White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator, said during a briefing Friday that the number is nearly double the 55 million who were fully inoculated at the end of March.

Health 3 hours ago

Biden says no masks outdoors for fully vaccinated people step toward 'normal living'

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated mask guidance for people who are fully vaccinated against the novel coronavirus.

Health 3 hours ago

CDC 'looking' into whether masks are necessary outside

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is looking into whether people should continue to wear masks outdoors to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the agency’s boss said Thursday.

Health 3 hours ago

Coronavirus deaths ‘going in right direction,’ CDC director says

The U.S. 7-day daily average coronavirus death toll is now at 691, indicating a slight decrease from the previous week and signifying a “number that’s going in the right direction,” Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) director said Friday.

Health 3 hours ago

Are coronavirus masks necessary for vaccinated people?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that fully vaccinated Americans take certain precautions while in public like wearing a mask and maintaining six feet of distance “until more is known” about the impact the jabs may have on the spread of coronavirus.

Health 3 hours ago

Walensky 'hopeful' Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine 'can be used again soon'

A day before a CDC committee is set to meet regarding the J&J COVID-19 vaccine, the agency’s director said she is “really hopeful” that the one-shot jab “can be used again soon.”

Health 3 hours ago

CDC probing ‘handful’ of new potential J&J vaccine reactions

The CDC is investigating a “handful” of potential additional cases of severe side effects involving the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, the agency’s chief said Monday.

Health 3 hours ago

CDC received 'handful' of possible Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine adverse reports, Walensky says

The CDC in conjunction with the FDA is working through “a handful” of reports regarding possible adverse events related to the J&J COVID-19 vaccine that have been flagged since the rollout was paused last week.

Health 3 hours ago

Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine pause sign ‘safety system is working for you,’ Murthy says

While some have questioned whether the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine pause will contribute to shot hesitancy or even turn some away from seeking a jab, the U.S. Surgeon General said Friday that it should be seen as a sign that the “safety system is working for you.”

Health 3 hours ago

Michigan coronavirus strategy should focus on restrictions, not more vaccine supply, Walensky says

Michigan’s governor has renewed her call for additional vaccine supply from the Biden administration to combat the state’s surging coronavirus cases, but federal officials have instead said the focus should be on implementing restrictions to stop the spread.