Means' Vaccine Stance Creates Public Health Policy Uncertainty for Pharma.

Casey Means, President Trump's nominee for Surgeon General, faced scrutiny during her Senate confirmation hearing regarding her stance on childhood vaccinations. While stating she believes vaccines save lives, she declined to explicitly recommend measles and flu shots for children, emphasizing a desire for "nuanced conversation" and "shared clinical decision-making" between parents and doctors.

Lawmakers pressed her on past criticisms of the Hepatitis B vaccine for newborns, which she attributed to being taken "out of context" and stated she "supports vaccines." Means also affirmed her belief that neither Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. nor the administration would pressure her to act unethically.

Her nomination requires advancement by the HELP committee before a full Senate vote.