Dr. Timothy Johnson, a prominent health expert and former network TV medical editor, is calling on Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy to take action regarding Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Johnson's plea comes after Kennedy's recent decisions to dismiss key officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and to significantly reduce funding for mRNA vaccine research.

In a direct appeal to Cassidy, who is also a physician, Johnson referenced the senator's earlier commitment to oversee Kennedy's actions. Cassidy had stated, "If Mr. Kennedy is confirmed, I will use my authority as chairman of the Senate committee with oversight of HHS to rebuff any attempt to remove the public's access to life-saving vaccines without iron-clad, causational, scientific evidence."

Johnson urged Cassidy to uphold that promise, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the CDC's advisory committee on immunization practices. He noted that since Cassidy's confirmation vote, Kennedy has dismissed members of this committee, raising concerns about the future of vaccine recommendations.

Additionally, Kennedy's decision to cut nearly $500 million in government funding for mRNA vaccine research has alarmed many in the medical community. Johnson highlighted that these vaccines played a crucial role in combating the COVID-19 pandemic. In a recent social media video, Kennedy claimed that mRNA technology poses more risks than benefits for respiratory viruses, a statement that has drawn criticism from vaccine experts.

Dr. Michael Osterholm, a respected public health authority, described the funding cuts as "one of the worst decisions I've seen in 50 years of public health preparedness work." Other experts have pointed out the potential of mRNA technology in developing new treatments, including for cancer.

Johnson concluded his message to Cassidy by urging him to act swiftly. He stated, "Senator Cassidy, I am pleading with you to do what you know in your physician's heart is the right thing to do: use that authority as you promised, and call your committee into action before it is too late, and too many lives may be unnecessarily lost."

The ongoing changes at the CDC and the implications for public health continue to raise significant concerns among health professionals.