Thread by @celinegounder

1/ Late last month, Dr. Bill Foege—@CDCgov Director '77-83, central figure in smallpox eradication, former Task Force for Global Health & Carter Center leader, Senior Fellow at the @gatesfoundation, and a devout Christian—sent this plea to @CDCDirector Bob Redfield.

2/ We are witnessing a "colossal failure of the public health response in this country." The result of "incompetence and illogic." The @CDCgov is the preeminent public health institution in the world. They should have been leading the response from the beginning.

3/ Basic tenets of public health:
- "Know the Truth." This White House is about obfuscation & confabulation.
- "a coherent FEDERAL plan," not a patchwork response: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/epi…
- We need cooperation & coalition, not division. The virus is winning by divide & conquer.

4/
- Vaccine nationalism/hoarding could backfire.
- If anyone understands herd immunity, it's Bill Foege. It's how the world eradicated smallpox.
- We have NEVER been able to achieve herd immunity with any infectious disease through natural infection, ONLY THROUGH VACCINATION.

5/ What happened to Dr. Deborah Birx?

6/ @CDCDirector Bob Redfield should have resigned while taking a very clear and public stand for all to see. There are times to try to change the system and mitigate harm from within. This is not that time.

7/ "IT IS A SLAUGHTER AND NOT JUST A POLITICAL DISPUTE." -Dr. Bill Foege
Public health officials must serve the public above all and everyone else, including the President.

8/ "REVISIT YOUR RELIGIOUS BELIEVES AND ASK YOURSELF WHAT IS RIGHT." -Dr. Bill Foege

This is exactly what every single one of us must do right now.