‘We Want Them Infected’: Trump Appointee Demanded ‘Herd Immunity’: Emails

"Then-HHS science adviser Paul Alexander called for millions of Americans to be infected as means of fighting Covid-19."

"A top Trump appointee repeatedly urged top health officials to adopt a 'herd immunity' approach to Covid-19 and allow millions of Americans to be infected by the virus, according to internal emails obtained by a House watchdog and shared with POLITICO.

“There is no other way, we need to establish herd, and it only comes about allowing the non-high risk groups expose themselves to the virus. PERIOD," then-science adviser Paul Alexander wrote on July 4 to his boss, Health and Human Services assistant secretary for public affairs Michael Caputo, and six other senior officials.

"Infants, kids, teens, young people, young adults, middle aged with no conditions etc. have zero to little risk….so we use them to develop herd…we want them infected…" Alexander added.

"[I]t may be that it will be best if we open up and flood the zone and let the kids and young folk get infected" in order to get "natural immunity…natural exposure," Alexander wrote on July 24 to Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Stephen Hahn, Caputo and eight other senior officials."

Dan Diamond reports for Politico December 16, 2020.

SEE ALSO:

"‘Like a Hand Grasping’: Trump Appointees Describe the Crushing of the C.D.C." (New York Times)

"CDC Director Allegedly Ordered Deletion Of Email Showing Effort To Interfere With Coronavirus Guidance, Lawmaker Says" (Washington Post)

"U.S. Surpasses 3,600 Daily Coronavirus Deaths, Breaks Prior Hospitalization Record" (NPR)

"Sun Sentinel To Join Suit Against Desantis For Refusing To Release Weekly White House Coronavirus Reports" (South Florida Sun-Sentinel)

"Secrecy and Spin: How Florida’s Governor Misled The Public on the COVID-19 Pandemic" (South Florida Sun-Sentinel)

"Gov. DeSantis Urges Dining At Restaurants And Touts Safety As Pandemic Rages" (South Florida Sun-Sentinel)

"Chairman Clyburn Releases Memo With New Evidence of Political Interference in Pandemic Response" (House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis Release)

"Clyburn Says Select Subcommittee Testimony Shows Political Interference at CDC" (NBC News)

"CDC’s Redfield Told Staff To Delete Email, Official Tells House Watchdog (Politico)

"CDC Official Tells Congress She Was Told To Delete Email Seeking To Alter Scientific Report" (The Hill)

"Rep. Clyburn Threatens To Subpoena CDC Director, Secy. Azar For Hiding Covid Information" (MSNBC)

 

Source: Politico, 12/17/2020