46 Comments
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Bobby Sunshine's avatar

Olivia,

I love you for writing this.

I knew some people in the Pandemic Response Team, who like you, were concerned about Trump. I was told by one person that Trump was “a wack job”. The other stated that “Trump has no understanding about health issues and his ideas are dangerous and immoral”.

Gary Hanks's avatar

I want to praise you for your previous post about Joy Reid. You were so open and honest. You revealed how much you cared. My respect for you grew by several orders of magnitude.

Denise Wallace's avatar

Imagine withholding a lifesaving vaccine from your baby for a personal opinion? I am almost seventy years old and recently had blood work to check for antibodies from childhood vaccines. They were all flowing in my blood system . I was vaccinated over sixty years ago ! This is truly a scientific miracle in my book. And now we might not even have the flu vaccine next year ? Thank you so much for your first hand account. It really needs to be shared again and again.

WCS's avatar

Denise: The flu vaccine?! Have they already been discussing or taking action to undermine or eliminate the flu vaccine specifically?! I've been trying to stay on top of the health news - but, in light of everything that's been happening, it wouldn't surprise me if I missed something important. Please let me know.

Denise Wallace's avatar

The FDA canceled meeting of flu experts was the lede in a NYT article dated 2/26/25. The attendees felt this could delay the production of the vaccine. The window for this is about 6 months.

Denise Wallace's avatar

Short and to the point . I am going to take my vitamins.

t4Ms's avatar

One thing you can absolutely count on: I will *never* respond to you with “anger”. Your voice is a vital antidote to the pandemic-levels of misinformation and lunacy currently infecting our country. Thank you :)

Elizabeth Marion Allen's avatar

I too would never be angry at your bravery. You are so courageous. Misguided people are the ones who react in anger

gwpriester's avatar

What is so convoluted is if Trump had the ability to listen to the advice of experts rather than believe he knows more than anybody else, he could have gotten out ahead of the Covid pandemic and been seen as a hero. But when it was clear he totally blew the opportunity he did what he always does, find someone to blame. And as with everybody he blames, it does not matter than they might have spent five decades protecting the health of the people as Fauci did.

Larry Rosen's avatar

Thank you Olivia. I would just point out that RFK Jr. has been pushing his anti-vaccine agenda for two decades. Here’s a good short interview on his history:

https://youtu.be/orm8DyxN55g?si=FPK6oqYh-jVXSQXE

Unfortunately the COVID-19 pandemic created new distrust and skepticism on the importance of vaccines in public healthcare. The fact that people who received vaccines sometimes got Covid didn’t help (even though vaccinated people were much less likely to be hospitalized than the unvaccinated). The measles outbreak is the tragic but inevitable result of the anti-vax movement.

Olivia of Troye's avatar

Thanks for sharing this interview of him. Yes, it's very concerning that he's been part of this movement for such a long time and here he now is at the helm of HHS. I appreciate your very thoughtful comment.

Julie Marshall's avatar

Thank you Olivia for speaking out on this as well as other Trump issues. You were there and lived it so that pretty much makes you an expert on these issues. I’m sorry that time in your career was such a nightmare. Keep spreading the word. There’s so many people behind you. Thank you again

Tam B's avatar

May there be hope of just one person 'on the fence' that reads this then vaccinates their child...

Diane Lee's avatar

Thank you Olivia, you must be experiencing PTSD at what you're seeing unfold now. I immediately knew trump was bungling the disease management. When the simple issue of wearing a mask in public became weaponized, I knew right then this country was doomed. Anyone with any experience in medicine knows that preventing droplet infection is key to staying safe, yet they encouraged people to do the opposite of what would keep them safe. I have PTSD and let me tell you, since that evil person came back into the White House, I've been literally shaking. I'm terrified of what is going to happen to all of us.

Be safe out there Olivia, so many people just aren't wired right these days. 🙏

Carol Gamm's avatar

Thank you, Olivia. Yours is a voice of sanity and caring in a dysfunctional America.

Jim T.'s avatar

Thank you Olivia. Know one is better equipped and informed to discuss this very important issue. Hoping your message reaches a wider audience on every possible cable channel.

Our nations' health and safety mechanisms are being systematically eliminated by complete and utter whack-jobs and lunatics, and it is important voices like yours that can help further this cause.

You are a true patriot, Olivia. You honor our nation with you truth, knowledge, and heart.

Kiera Stroup's avatar

Olivia, thank you for standing up for the truth. Right now they are canceling meetings to determine what flu strains will be included in the upcoming vaccine for the fall. What does this mean? No flu vaccine? What about the upcoming Covid vaccine? I’m concerned. I take these every year and have avoided the flu for as long as I’ve been doing that. I only got COVID once, last year, and I barely noticed it. I’m 60 and healthy, on no meds. However, I fear for those that aren’t.

Lizzie de Rham's avatar

Thank you for your clear, bravely honest writing! This nightmare is scary, and you are a beacon of strength for maintaining hope for our future!!!

Karen Austin's avatar

You are a brave woman,Olivia. Thank you for sharing information from your days in the White House. It must be painful to revisit those days and even more difficult to see those events coming to fruition.

T J's avatar

Thank you for sharing what you witnessed in the first djt admin. It's a painful reminder that I trust elected officials too much to "take care of us" and follow through with what is best for health and well-being. I'm so discouraged and feel so lost right now. Beacons of hope like you are so helpful now.

Deb White's avatar

Thank you Olivia. I watched you many times on MSNBC. I appreciate your bravery and honesty. We will miss Joy very much! I hope something wonderful comes her way.