CDC Director Dr Rochelle Walensky is blasted over tweet urging 'pregnant PEOPLE' to get COVID vaccine
The director of the CDC has been condemned on Twitter for using the phrase 'pregnant people' while urging expectant mothers to get vaccinated.
Dr Rochelle Walensky wrote: 'The rise in cases, vaccine hesitancy, and the increased risk of severe illness for pregnant people make vaccination against #COVID19 more urgent than ever. Read why @CDCgov recommends that pregnant people should be vaccinated against COVID-19.'
In a follow-on tweet linked to the original, Walensky added: '#COVID19 vaccines are safe for pregnant people at all stages of pregnancy and their babies.
'We recommend that all pregnant people or people thinking about becoming pregnant get vaccinated against COVID-19.'
A third tweet also referenced the safety of COVID vaccines for expectant mothers, but did not use the term 'pregnant people.'
The gender-neutral term has recently become popular, and is intended to be inclusive to transgender men who get pregnant.
Dr. Walensky encourages 'pregnant people' to get the COVID-19 vaccine, sparking a debate online about the use of the term
Many people are worried about the effects the vaccine has on fertility and miscarriage rates
In a follow-up tweet, Dr. Walensky ensures users that the vaccine is safe for all those who pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant, or considering getting pregnant in the future by linking data from the CDC
But Walensky's use of the term infuriated many other tweeters, who accused her of politicized language, and even denying basic biology.
Illinois congresswoman Mary Miller blasted the CDC director for using 'left-wing' language in official guidance, stating it makes the public lose 'faith and trust in their objectivity.'
Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee had harsher feelings and felt the term was 'erasing women.' She said, 'I've never seen a man tough enough to survive pregnancy and childbirth,' she told Fox News.
'The recent movement to erase women is disturbing, and has made its way into our bureaucracy.'
Many women agreed with her.
Republican Congresswoman Mary Miller of Illinois blasts Dr. Walensky for using 'left-wing' language and said it encourages people to lose faith in the CDC
Allie Beth Stuckey, host of the Relatable podcast and recently suspended from saying 'men are still men' about a transgender Olympian, tweeted: 'Every single "pregnant person" is a woman. Always, forever, and unconditionally. I'm not playing along.'
Others questioned the science behind Walensky's words.
Megan Basham, an entertainment reporter for the Daily Wire, said: 'If you use the term "pregnant people" instead of "pregnant women," why would I believe anything you have to say about "science"?'
One user Brandon Westbrook said: 'If you're fuzzy on whether a man or woman can get pregnant, probably not going to be taking your other science advice.'
Many users, including Relatable Podcast host Allie Beth Stuckey and Daily Wire entertainment reporter Megan Basham, disagreed with Dr. Walensky's use of the new terminology and questioned the CDC's science
Dr Rochelle Walensky has come under fire for using the term 'pregnant people'
Recently a similar debate broke out around using the terms 'birthing/gestational parent' and 'non-birthing parent' in the labor and delivery room, as well as, changing 'breastfeeding' to 'chestfeeding', so as to avoid excluding transgender men who've given birth.
The Biden administration released their 2022 fiscal year budget and replaced the word 'mother' with 'birthing parent' in the public health funding section.
A hospital in Brighton, U.K., has also introduced more inclusive terms.
The Brighton and Sussex Hospital released a 20-page document including a list of more inclusive terms, such as: 'human/chest milk' instead of 'breast milk' and using 'prenatal' instead of 'maternity.'
In a statement, they said: 'Maternity services at Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals have broadened the language they use to support midwives providing care for trans and non-binary people who are giving birth.
'The trust recognizes the vast majority of midwifery service users are women and already has language in place women are comfortable with. This is not changing. For example, we will continue to call them pregnant women and talk about breastfeeding.'
This isn't the first time Dr. Walensky and the CDC angered people.
She has come under fire for her dramatically gloomy pronouncements during COVID press conferences.
The CDC is also said to have angered the White House with its messaging on Delta, and has even been accused of undermining trust in vaccines.