FDA nominee Heidi Overton faces Senate questions on vaccines and abortion drug

President Donald Trump’s FDA commissioner nominee, Heidi Overton, told the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee that the MMR vaccine and all vaccines currently on the U.S. market are safe and effective according to the FDA. Senators questioned her Thursday about her support for Trump’s call to split the MMR shot and whether she would stand by FDA science if the president disagreed. Overton said she would follow statutory requirements and give the president her best advice, but did not directly say she would correct him.

Senators also asked about mifepristone. Overton said the drug met FDA safety and efficacy standards under its current label, and said she would not prejudge an ongoing safety review. She also faced questions about food safety, flavored e-cigarettes and FDA advisory committees. The committee’s next step is a vote on whether to send her nomination to the full Senate.