He said his decision came after multiple conversations with top HHS officials about removing claims about vaccines and autism from the CDC website, and making personnel changes at the agency. “While there have been changes to the CDC website, any assertion that there is a link between autism and vaccines is wrong. Cassidy had previously raised concerns about Schwartz’s independence and autonomy to lead CDC following her predecessor’s ouster. “You sometimes don’t get the nominee that you’d like to have, but you get a nominee that you have to have,” Cassidy added in reference to Kaufman. It is unlikely that the full Senate will vote to confirm either nominee ahead of August recess, raising the prospect that the two will not be confirmed before September.