Surgeon General Nominee Says Vaccines Save Lives, but Informed Consent Important

‘Informed consent is going to be a big part of building trust in public health,’ Dr. Casey Means said.

Dr. Casey Means in Washington on Feb. 25, 2026. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

President Donald Trump’s nominee for surgeon general told a Senate panel on Feb. 25 that she supports vaccination as well as individuals discussing the risks and benefits of medications with doctors.

“I’m supportive of vaccination,” Dr. Casey Means, 38, told the Senate Committee on Health during a hearing in Washington. “I do believe that each ‌patient, mother, parent, ​needs to ​have ​a conversation with ‌their pediatrician about ​any medication ​they’re putting in their body and their ​children’s ‌body.”