Summary3 min read

Becker’s Healthcare Podcast

Episode: Key Public Health Shifts with Paige Twenter, Assistant Editor at Becker's Healthcare

Date: September 16, 2025
Host: Shell Bunger
Guest: Paige Twenter

Overview

In this episode, Assistant Editor Paige Twenter discusses two major public health developments currently under scrutiny: the fallout at the CDC following the firing of its director, and significant changes underway in national and state-level vaccine policy. The conversation provides firsthand insights into these shifting dynamics and their potential impact on public health, especially concerning vaccine guidance and state mandates.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Congressional Oversight of the CDC

Timestamp: 00:56–01:52

CDC Leadership Turmoil
- Dr. Susan Menarez, recently ousted CDC director, is set to testify before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.
- Her tenure was extremely brief—less than a month—culminating in a firing, allegedly for not aligning with the administration's “Make America Healthy Again” agenda.
- The firing and multiple senior CDC resignations have created a period of chaos at the agency.
- Paige signals close coverage of the September 17th hearing for further insights.
Notable Quote

"Dr. Menarez, she was fired approximately or even less than one month after being appointed as director. The allegedly refused to resign and several senior CDC leaders resigned soon after her firing."
— Paige Twenter (01:15)

2. Changes in Federal Vaccine Policy

Timestamp: 01:53–03:00

Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) Upheaval
- The ACIP, which guides CDC vaccine policy, is meeting for the second time after a controversial overhaul.
- Newly appointed by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., all 17 previous members were removed earlier in the summer, startling many public health experts.
- Their upcoming votes will address key vaccines—MMR, Hepatitis B, and COVID-19.
- The committee is expected to review reports linking COVID-19 vaccines to the deaths of 25 children—a highly contentious topic.
Notable Quote

"Earlier this summer, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. he appointed new members to the committee and fired all 17 standing members, which really shocked public health and vaccine experts."
— Paige Twenter (02:06)
- Implications for Pharmacies and Public
  - Some states and pharmacies are in a holding pattern, awaiting the committee’s recommendations to determine eligibility for COVID-19 vaccines.
  - Eligibility guidance has been especially fraught after federal recommendations for pregnant patients and healthy adults (non-immunocompromised) were pulled by RFK Jr.
  - Resulting in certain states now requiring prescriptions for COVID shots for specific groups.

3. Florida's Pending Elimination of School-Based Vaccine Mandates

Timestamp: 03:00–03:35

State-level Policy Shift
- The Florida Department of Health will eliminate requirements for several school vaccines, including for chickenpox, hepatitis B, and influenza, beginning in the fall.
- This move could have broad ripple effects on public health in the state.
- Paige is seeking input from Florida health system leaders for ongoing reporting.
Notable Quote

"Florida's health department plans to end school based vaccine requirements to fall. Affected mandates include vaccines for chicken box, hepatitis B and influenza..."
— Paige Twenter (03:14)

Timestamps for Important Segments

CDC Oversight Hearing Preview: 00:56–01:52
ACIP Committee Shake-up and Vaccine Policy: 01:53–03:00
Florida School Vaccine Requirements Ending: 03:00–03:35

Memorable Moments and Quotes

On CDC Turmoil:

"A White House spokesperson said she was fired because she was not aligned with President Donald Trump's Make America Healthy Again agenda."
— Paige Twenter (01:35)
On National Vaccine Guidance Uncertainty:

"Some states are requiring prescriptions for Covid shots for specific groups such as pregnant patients."
— Paige Twenter (02:44)
Call for Input from Florida Health Leaders:

"I'd love to use this opportunity to ask if any health system leaders in Florida are listening...I'd love to hear from you. So please reach out."
— Paige Twenter (03:27)

Conclusion

Paige Twenter delivers a concise yet comprehensive overview of critical shifts in public health leadership and vaccine policy. She highlights ongoing uncertainty stemming from federal leadership changes, controversial vaccine policy decisions, and the potential impacts of revised state mandates—particularly in Florida. Listeners are left with a sense of the high stakes involved and encouraged to stay engaged as these stories develop.

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Transcript5 lines

[00:01]
A
Exciting things are happening at Beckers Healthcare Stay ahead of industry trends with the new Beckers CFO plus Revenue Cycle Podcast your go to source for insights from top healthcare finance leaders. Tune in wherever you get your podcasts and don't miss the 10th annual Health IT Digital Health RCM Conference happening September 30 to October 3, 2025 in Chicago. Join thousands of executives, engage with industry leaders and explore the future of healthcare innov. Learn more about our upcoming events@beckershospitalreview.com See you there.
[00:38]
B
Hello and welcome to the Becker's Healthcare Podcast. My name is Shell Bunger and today I'm excited to speak with Paige Twenter, Assistant Editor at Becker's Hospital Review, who joins us regularly to share insights into healthcare and pharmacy trend. She's keeping an eye on Paige. Thank you as always for joining me today. Why don't you take it away and tell us about some of the things that you're seeing out there.
[00:56]
C
Wonderful. Thank you so much for having me. There are two things I'd really love to call out that the Clinical Leadership Desk is closely watching this week. So first of all, Dr. Susan Menarez, former CDC director, is testifying this Wednesday, September 17th before the Senate Health, Education, labor and Pensions Committee. The hearing is going to focus on oversight of the CDC after months of chaos at the agency. Dr. Minarez she was fired approximately or even less than one month after being appointed as director. The allegedly refused to resign and several senior CDC leaders resigned soon after her firing. A White House spokesperson said she was fired because she was not aligned with President Donald Trump's Make America Healthy Again agenda. But we're closely going to cover what she testifies next day, September 18th and 19th, or Thursday and Friday, the newly formed Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. They're meeting for the second time, the Advisory Committee, or acip. They provide vaccine guidance to the cdc. It's a group of independent experts. Earlier this summer, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. He appointed new members to the committee and fired all 17 standing members, which really shocked public health and vaccine experts. And this meeting is gonna focus on MMR vaccines, hepatitis B, COVID 19, and they're gonna be voting on those Thursday and Friday. During the meeting, Federal health officials are expected or anticipated to link COVID 19 vaccines to the deaths of 25 children or reports of deaths of 25 children. One thing to note is that whatever they end up voting on, pharmacies in about a dozen states are waiting on the committee's recomm to determine eligibility for COVID 19 vaccines. Earlier this summer, RFK Jr. He removed or pulled the agency's guidance on COVID 19 recommendations for pregnant patients and for healthy adults or non immunocompromised. So some states are requiring prescriptions for Covid shots for specific groups such as pregnant patients. One last thing I would mention on the topic of vaccines. This is more local but Florida's health department plans to end school based vaccine requirements to fall. Affected mandates include vaccines for chicken box hepatitis B and influenza and I'd love to use this opportunity to ask if any health system leaders in Florida are listening. I'm working on an article with my colleague Erica Surdy about what this might mean for public health initiatives in the state and I'd love to hear from you. So please reach out.
[03:56]
B
Perfect. Well Paige, I want to thank you as always for joining me today and for sharing your insights on the Becker's Healthcare podcast. Thank you so much.
[04:02]
C
Thank you.