Fired US health agency chief testifies about pressure to 'replace evidence with ideology'

WASHINGTON - The former chief of the US disease prevention agency told senators on Sept 17 that she was fired for refusing to approve changes to childhood vaccine schedules not backed by scientific evidence, as the Trump administration moves to dismantle longstanding health policy.

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The high-profile testimony follows the abrupt ouster in August of Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) head Susan Monarez, who told lawmakers on the Senate Health Committee that US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr had also demanded that she fire career scientists from the agency without cause.

"Even under pressure, I could not replace evidence with ideology, or compromise my integrity," she told the panel.

"Vaccine policy must be guided by credible data, not predetermined outcomes."

The testimony comes one day before a highly anticipated meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunisation Practices - a body Mr Kennedy has dramatically revamped, firing all of its members and replacing them with figures whose views mirror his own vaccine scepticism.