Dr Heidi Overton backs vaccines at FDA hearing

Dr Heidi Overton, President Donald Trump’s nominee for FDA commissioner, has backed the safety of vaccines currently available in the US, telling senators that vaccines on the market are “safe and effective”.

Clear stance on vaccines

Dr Overton made the comments during a Senate hearing yesterday, the first step in the confirmation process after Trump nominated her for the role on 19 August 2026.

Her position on vaccines was closely examined by both Republicans and Democrats following a turbulent year for vaccination policy in the US.

The Trump administration has pushed to change aspects of the childhood vaccination schedule, including a proposal to separate the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine into individual shots.

Dr Overton is a preventive-medicine physician and has served as a White House domestic-policy adviser.

Views on medical abortion

The hearing also covered medication abortion, with senators questioning Overton about the pill mifepristone.

Dr Overton declined to give a personal view when pressed by Democrats, despite previously criticising the abortion pill and opposing policies that expanded access to it.

Instead, she said mifepristone “has met the safety and efficacy standard according to the FDA”, while declining to prejudge the agency’s ongoing review of the drug.

The FDA review was announced in September 2025 by then-commissioner Dr Marty Makary and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The pair said the agency would examine the safety of mifepristone’s and determine whether changes were needed.

The review was subsequently delayed, remaining unresolved since Dr Makary resigned as FDA commissioner in May 2026.

Defence for flavoured vapes

When quizzed on tobacco policy, Dr Overton focused on protecting children from nicotine and tackling illicit imports of vaping products from China, while defending adult vaping.

Notably, also defended the FDA’s recent approval of fruit-flavoured vape products, saying they could help adult smokers quit traditional cigarettes.

The approvals have faced criticism from some Republican senators, who took the opportunity to raise their concerns during the hearing. Dr Overton said there was “100% agreement” within the administration on the need to protect children from vaping.

Next steps for Dr Overton

The meeting ended without a decision on whether Dr Overton’s nomination will advance.

The 21-member Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee must first vote on whether to advance her nomination to the full Senate. Chairman Bill Cassidy has not yet announced when that vote will take place.

If the committee approves the nomination, it will move to the full Senate, where Dr Overton would need a simple majority to be confirmed.