Fact Check: "Dr. Fiona Havers led the CDC's Respiratory Virus Hospitalization Surveillance Network (RESP-NET), which collects and studies trends in hospitalizations from COVID-19, RSV, and influenza."
What We Know
Dr. Fiona Havers is indeed a prominent figure at the CDC, specifically leading the Respiratory Virus Hospitalization Surveillance Network (RESP-NET). This network is responsible for monitoring and analyzing hospitalization trends related to various respiratory viruses, including COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and influenza. According to a CDC document, Dr. Havers is identified as the leader of the RESP-NET Hospitalization Surveillance Team, which operates under the Coronavirus and Other Respiratory Viruses Division (source-1).
RESP-NET is designed to conduct population-based surveillance for laboratory-confirmed hospitalizations associated with these viruses, providing critical data that informs public health responses (source-3). The network integrates various surveillance components, including COVID-NET and RSV-NET, to ensure comprehensive monitoring of respiratory virus impacts (source-2).
Analysis
The claim that Dr. Fiona Havers leads the RESP-NET and that it collects and studies hospitalization trends for COVID-19, RSV, and influenza is well-supported by multiple credible sources. The CDC's own documentation and publications confirm her role and the network's objectives. For instance, the CDC's overview of the FluSurv-NET, which is part of RESP-NET, emphasizes its purpose in monitoring influenza-associated hospitalizations, further validating the network's focus on respiratory viruses (source-2).
Moreover, Dr. Havers' involvement in significant presentations and reports related to COVID-19 hospitalizations reinforces her authoritative position within the CDC (source-4). The reliability of the sources is high, as they originate from official CDC publications and peer-reviewed articles, which are generally considered authoritative in the public health domain.
However, it's worth noting that Dr. Havers recently resigned from her position, which has been reported in various news outlets. This resignation was reportedly influenced by external pressures regarding vaccine recommendations and data usage (source-5, source-6). While this development may affect her future role, it does not negate the accuracy of the claim regarding her leadership of RESP-NET.
Conclusion
Verdict: True
The claim that Dr. Fiona Havers led the CDC's Respiratory Virus Hospitalization Surveillance Network (RESP-NET) and that this network collects and studies trends in hospitalizations from COVID-19, RSV, and influenza is accurate. This is substantiated by credible sources from the CDC and peer-reviewed literature, confirming her leadership role and the network's focus on these significant public health issues.
Sources
- COVID-19–Associated Hospitalizations
- Influenza Hospitalization Surveillance Network (FluSurv- ...
- Burden of Respiratory Syncytial Virus–Associated ...
- COVID-19–Associated Hospitalizations among Children ...
- US CDC official in charge of COVID, RSV data resigns ...
- CDC virus expert resigns after RFK Jr.'s purge of vaccine ...
