Trump’s FDA nominee backs MMR vaccine but dodges questions on president

Heidi Overton, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Food and Drug Administration, faced nearly two hours of questioning at a Senate health committee hearing on vaccines, flavoured vapes, birth control and abortion. The FDA has been without a commissioner since Marty Makary resigned in May.

Overton, a physician and deputy assistant to the president for domestic policy, said the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is “safe and effective”. But she repeatedly declined to answer whether Trump could be wrong, including when senators pressed her on his past claims about the vaccine and a claimed link between paracetamol use during pregnancy and autism.

Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester also asked about reports that Overton had suggested splitting the combined MMR vaccine into separate shots. Overton said her role was to give Trump options, but did not say whether she had reviewed the evidence or supported that proposal.

Questions on tobacco policy focused on the FDA’s May guidance that paved the way for sales of flavoured vapes. Senator Chris Murphy alleged that a tobacco company donation and a meeting with Trump preceded the policy change; the account was his allegation. Overton rejected the framing of his question. Asked whether she knew about planned changes to tobacco rules, she said she was not involved in those discussions but did not clarify whether she was aware of them.

Overton also declined to say whether she considered IUDs a form of abortion or whether birth control pills pollute the water supply, claims made by anti-abortion groups. The FDA is reviewing mifepristone’s safety, according to Ars Technica, which reported that extensive data show the drug is very safe.