Trump’s surgeon general nominee stops short of urging routine childhood vaccinations at confirmation hearing
02/26/2026 / By Laura Harris
- President Donald Trump’s surgeon general nominee, Casey Means, told the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee she will not broadly encourage parents to vaccinate their children against measles, flu or whooping cough, emphasizing individual consultation with pediatricians instead.
- Means faced intense questioning from lawmakers, including HELP Committee Chair Bill Cassidy, about her stance on childhood immunizations amid concerns over measles outbreaks.
- Unlike previous surgeons general, Means did not advocate routine childhood vaccination, reflecting themes from her book, “Trust Yourself, Not Your Doctor,” and her broader health philosophy.
- A Stanford Medical School graduate, Means left surgical training to focus on preventing chronic disease, has promoted wellness via podcasts with her brother Calley Means and aligns with RFK Jr. on emphasizing lifestyle, diet and environmental factors as health drivers.
- Trump praised Means’ academic achievements and career, saying her credentials make her well-suited to be one of the “finest Surgeon Generals in United States History.”
President Donald Trump’s nominee for surgeon general, Casey Means, has declined to encourage parents to vaccinate their children against measles, influenza or whooping cough, breaking with the longstanding precedent set by previous holders of the nation’s top public health post.
Testifying before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee on Wednesday, Feb. 25, Means, a prominent voice in the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) movement, faced pointed questioning from lawmakers over her views on childhood immunizations and school vaccine requirements – a central issue in her confirmation process.
When asked whether she would recommend the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine to parents, Means said, “I believe vaccines save lives. I believe that vaccines are a key part of any infectious disease public health strategy.” However, she stopped short of directly urging parents to vaccinate their children.
HELP Committee Chair Bill Cassidy (R-La.) pressed her to clarify, referencing deaths linked to a measles outbreak in the South in 2025 and asking whether she would encourage a mother to vaccinate her child.
“I’m supportive of vaccination,” Means said. “I do believe that each patient, mother, parent needs to have a conversation with their pediatrician about any medication they’re putting in their body and their children’s bodies.” Cassidy responded, “You’re the nation’s doctor. Would you encourage her to have her child vaccinated?”
“I’m not an individual’s doctor and every individual needs to talk to their doctor before putting a medication in their body,” Means replied. “I absolutely am supportive of the measles vaccine. And I do believe vaccines save lives and are an important part of the public health strategy.”
Means offered similar answers when questioned about vaccines for influenza and whooping cough, emphasizing personal medical consultation rather than issuing a blanket recommendation.
Her stance departs from years of tradition in which surgeons general have actively promoted routine childhood immunizations as a cornerstone of public health. The approach is consistent with themes in Means’ published work, including a chapter titled “Trust Yourself, Not Your Doctor.”
Trump praises Mean’s academic background, career and life’s work
According to BrightU.AI‘s Enoch, a surgeon general’s primary role is to serve as the nation’s leading spokesperson on matters of public health, providing guidance and leadership to the public and health professionals. They are responsible for promoting health and preventing disease through education, research and policy recommendations. The surgeon general’s role is to act as an impartial and trusted voice, free from political influence, to ensure that public health decisions are based on sound scientific evidence and the best interests of the population.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump praised Means’ academic background and career, saying her life’s work would position her to become one of the “finest Surgeon Generals in United States History.”
Means, a graduate of Stanford Medical School, left a surgical training track to focus on addressing the root causes of chronic disease in America. She has gained prominence in conservative media circles through appearances on podcasts hosted by Tucker Carlson and Joe Rogan, often alongside her brother, Calley Means.
Like Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.), she argues that processed foods, environmental toxins and unhealthy lifestyle patterns are primary drivers of obesity, cancer, diabetes and infertility. She has also expressed skepticism about aspects of the current vaccine schedule, questioning the “cumulative effects” of vaccines and calling for further study. She has also criticized vaccine mandates and raised concerns about the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), suggesting corruption within the agency.
Trump believes these credentials make her well-suited for the role of surgeon general. “Her academic achievements, together with her life’s work, are absolutely outstanding. Dr. Casey Means has the potential to be one of the finest Surgeon Generals in United States History,” Trump said.
Dr. Suzanne Humphries reveals surprising truths about vaccines, polio and medicine with Health Ranger Mike Adams. Watch this video.
This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.
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Big Pharma, deception, depopulation, health freedom, measles, MMR, outbreak, pharmaceutical fraud, public health mandate, vaccine wars, vaccines
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