Jay Bhattacharya, a Stanford economist and advocate of “herd immunity,” could shape U.S. health policy with views that critics say undermine science.
Melody Schreiber reports for The Guardian.
In short:
- Bhattacharya, selected to lead the NIH, promoted the idea of “herd immunity” through widespread Covid infection, a strategy experts blame for excess deaths and disabilities during the pandemic.
- His early Covid research, criticized for significant errors, fueled calls to reopen the U.S., aligning with the Trump administration’s controversial policies.
- Experts warn that Bhattacharya’s appointment could further erode trust in vaccines and public health, with lasting repercussions for preventable diseases like measles and pertussis.
Key quote:
“He was a pro-infection doctor. He said that parts of the country had reached herd immunity in summer 2020 … and he treated rare vaccine side effects as a fate worse than death.”
— Jonathan Howard, associate professor of neurology and psychiatry at NYU Langone Health
Why this matters:
Bhattacharya’s nomination doesn’t just reopen old wounds; it signals a potential shift toward health policies that sideline rigorous science in favor of ideology. Public health experts fear that this could ripple beyond Covid, threatening progress on vaccine uptake and infectious disease prevention. Read more: States dismantle COVID-19 safety protocols at our peril.
