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Who Is William Thompson, RFK Jr.’s Contact at the CDC?
When U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was asked during a Senate hearing earlier this month to name one scientist who was briefing him at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), he offered the name William Thompson. Some CDC employees had never heard the name before — but Thompson is actually something of a folk hero among the anti-vax crowd, with his voice featured in a 2016 documentary co-produced by disgraced physician Andrew Wakefield, MBBS. And he appears to still have a job with the agency.
The HHS directory lists three William Thompsons. But sources who spoke with MedPage Today on background said Kennedy was referring to William W. Thompson, Ph.D., who works in the CDC’s division of viral hepatitis, within the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention. Most recently, Thompson was an author on a Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report study on mental health during COVID-19 published Jan. 16, 2025. According to his LinkedIn profile, his PhD is in psychology.
Several former CDC scientists told MedPage Today that Thompson is a highly regarded scientist. However, he also became a sort of poster child for anti-vaccine activists when he was portrayed as a star whistleblower in Vaxxed: From Cover-up to Catastrophe, a 90-minute YouTube documentary.
In the documentary, a telephone voice attributed to Thompson can be heard describing how his CDC research team covered up and deleted data on a potential relationship between the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine and autism in Black boys in a study published in Pediatrics in 2004.
Trump Taps Ben Carson to Take on Role as Nutrition Adviser
Former Republican presidential candidate and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson will take on a temporary role as a senior nutrition and housing adviser at the U.S. Agriculture Department (USDA).
Beginning Wednesday, Carson will serve as a point person at USDA to help advance Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s agenda to “Make America Healthy Again,” an agency spokesperson said. USDA manages many key federal nutrition programs including SNAP benefits for low-income families and the national school meals program.
Dr. Oz Softens Trump Warnings About Tylenol Use During Pregnancy
Dr. Mehmet Oz on Tuesday softened President Trump’s warnings that pregnant women should not take Tylenol due to a largely unproven link to autism. In an interview with TMZ, Oz, who leads the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said pregnant women should consult with a physician and use the medication if they have a high fever.
“If you have a high fever … you ought to be talking to a doctor anyway,” Oz said. “The doctor’s almost certainly going to prescribe you something. Tylenol might be one of the things they give.” Oz’s message was a far cry from Trump’s news conference on Monday, where he said “don’t take Tylenol” nearly a dozen times. Trump repeatedly told women to “tough it out” rather than take Tylenol for fever or pain during pregnancy.
“Taking Tylenol is not good,” Trump said, and urged women to “fight like hell” against taking it.
In his interview, Oz nodded to the fact Tylenol has been one of the only over-the-counter pain medications for pregnant women that is considered safe. Other options, like ibuprofen or aspirin, can increase risks of birth defects. “Pregnant women know lots of the typical things you would take for aches and pains and fevers are not a permissible product to be used during pregnancy. Acetaminophen is probably your best option, but take it when you really need it,” Oz said.
NM Gov Will Add Vaccine Policy to Oct. 1 Special Session Agenda
New Mexico state Democratic leadership plans to bring forward at least four bills for the Oct.1 special legislative session — including one intended to insulate the state from federal changes to vaccination policies. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced the session earlier this month and said it would be geared primarily at addressing impacts from the Congressional Republican spending bill signed into law by Trump this summer.
The session start date coincides with a possible shutdown of the federal government. State Republicans have since pushed to expand the agenda to include topics such as interstate medical compacts, but have faced resistance from Senate Democrats.
However, Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth (D-Santa Fe) told Source NM in a call Tuesday that one of the bills that leadership intends to bring will allow the New Mexico Department of Health to “set their own standards.” That move comes as U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. upends federal health policies.
More States Protect Access to the COVID Shot as Feds Restrict Eligibility
At least 17 states have taken steps to ensure broader access to the COVID-19 vaccine since last month, when the federal government significantly restricted eligibility for the shot.
Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin have issued orders that aim to make it easier for people to get the COVID-19 vaccine. All but Virginia have Democratic governors.
Together, the moves represent an extraordinary state rebellion against the public health authority of the federal government. For decades, states have followed the lead of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on which vaccines Americans should get, and when they should get them. Now, rejecting the antivaccine stance of U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., an increasing number of states say they will rely instead on their own public health experts and professional medical organizations for that advice.
Arizona COVID Vaccine Rollout Hits Snags Despite State’s Standing Order Workaround
Despite the Arizona Department of Health Services issuing a standing order last week allowing virtually every Arizona resident to get a COVID-19 vaccine without a prescription, vaccine access has remained tricky and confusion has remained as the federal government continues to make moves to restrict it.
Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs issued an executive order earlier this month that gave the state health department the ability to issue the standing order, which acts as a prescription and allows pharmacists to administer the vaccine. The move came after the Trump administration, led by prominent anti-vaxxer and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., moved to make it only available without a prescription to those 65 and older.
Last week, ADHS issued a standing order allowing anyone at least 6 months old to get the vaccine without a prescription, following the lead of other states who have made similar decisions. Despite all this, the Arizona Mirror began receiving reports that those who wanted to get the vaccine were having difficulty making appointments with two of the largest pharmacy chains in the state and the nation, CVS and Walgreens.
