CDC shooter believed COVID vaccine made him suicidal, his father tells police
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A Georgia man who opened fire on the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters, shooting dozens of rounds into the sprawling complex and killing a police officer, had blamed the COVID-19 vaccine for making him depressed and suicidal, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press on Saturday.The 30-year-old shooter also tried to get into the CDC 's headquarters in Atlanta but was stopped by guards before driving to a pharmacy across the street and opening fire late on Friday afternoon, the official said. He was armed with five guns, including at least one long gun, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to publicly discuss the investigation.DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose was mortally wounded while responding. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, whose skepticism of vaccines has been a cornerstone of his career, voiced support for CDC employees on Saturday. But some laid-off CDC employees said Kennedy shares responsibility for the violence and should resign.CDC shooter identifiedThe Georgia Bureau of Investigation named Patrick Joseph White as the shooter, but authorities have not said whether he was killed by police or killed himself.The suspect's father contacted police and identified his son as the possible shooter, the law enforcement official told AP. The father said his son had been upset over the death of the son's dog, and he had also become fixated on the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the official. The family lives in Kennesaw, Georgia, an Atlanta suburb about 40 kilometres northwest of CDC headquarters.A voicemail left at a phone number listed publicly for White's family was not returned on Saturday.Employees at the CDC are shakenThe shooting left gaping bullet holes in windows across the CDC campus, where thousands work on critical disease research. Employees huddled under lockdown for hours while investigators gathered evidence. Staff was encouraged to work from home on Monday or take leave.At least four CDC buildings were hit, Director Susan Monarez said on X.Sam Atkins, who lives in Stone Mountain, said outside the CVS pharmacy on Saturday that gun violence feels like "a fact of life" now. "This is an everyday thing that happens here in Georgia."Kennedy reaches out to staff"We are deeply saddened by the tragic shooting at CDC's Atlanta campus that took the life of officer David Rose," Kennedy said on Saturday. "We know how shaken our public health colleagues feel today. No one should face violence while working to protect the health of others."Some rejected the expressions of solidarity Kennedy made in a "Dear colleagues" email, and called for his resignation."Kennedy is directly responsible for the villainisation of CDC's workforce through his continuous lies about science and vaccine safety, which have fuelled a climate of hostility and mistrust," said Fired But Fighting , a group of laid-off employees opposing changes to the CDC by President Donald Trump 's administration.Under Kennedy, CDC has laid off nearly 2,000 employees. Trump proposes cutting the agency's budget in half next year, moving some CDC functions into a new Administration for a Healthy America. Kennedy has a history as a leader in the anti-vaccine movement, but he reached new prominence by spreading distrust of COVID-19 vaccines. For example, he called it "criminal medical malpractice" to give COVID-19 vaccines to children.Kennedy parlayed that attention into a presidential bid and endorsement of Trump, leading to Trump naming him secretary. Kennedy continues to undercut the scientific consensus for vaccines, ordering USD 500 million cut from vaccine development funding on Tuesday.Opponents say officials' rhetoric contributedFired But Fighting also called for the resignation of Russell Vought, noting a video recorded before Trump appointed him Office of Management and Budget director with orders to dismantle much of the federal government."We want the bureaucrats to be traumatically affected," Vought said in the video, obtained by ProPublica and the research group Documented. "When they wake up in the morning, we want them to not want to go to work, because they are increasingly viewed as the villains."A request for comment from Vought's agency was not returned.This shooting was the "physical embodiment of the narrative that has taken over, attacking science, and attacking our federal workers," said Sarah Boim, a former CDC communications staffer who was fired this year during a wave of terminations.A distrust of COVID-19 vaccinesA neighbour of White told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that White spoke with her multiple times about his distrust of COVID-19 vaccines.Nancy Hoalst , who lives on the same street as White's family, said he seemed like a "good guy" while doing yard work and walking dogs for neighbours, but he would bring up vaccines even in unrelated conversations."He was very unsettled, and he very deeply believed that vaccines hurt him and were hurting other people," Hoalst told the Atlanta newspaper, "He emphatically believed that."But Hoalst said she never believed White would be violent, "I had no idea he thought he would take it out on the CDC."Slain officer leaves wife and 3 kidsRose, 33, was a former Marine who served in Afghanistan, graduated from the police academy in March and "quickly earned the respect of his colleagues for his dedication, courage and professionalism," DeKalb County said."This evening, there is a wife without a husband. There are three children, one unborn, without a father," DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson said.Growing security concernsSenior CDC leadership told some staff on Saturday that they would do a full security assessment following the shooting, according to a conference call recording obtained by the AP.One staffer said people felt like "sitting ducks" on Friday. Another asked whether administrators had spoken with Kennedy and if they could speak to "the misinformation, the disinformation" that "caused this issue."It is clear CDC leaders fear employees could continue to be targeted. In a Saturday email obtained by the AP, CDC's security office asked employees to scrape old CDC parking decals off their vehicles. The office said decals haven't been required for some time.
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News18
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In Maharashtra, Cane-Cutting Women Are The Healthcare Lifelines For Migrant Communities
Last Updated: In drought-hit Marathwada, women trained as Arogya Sakhis are providing first aid and medical support to thousands of migrant families left behind by the public health system. Beed, Maharashtra: 'Many women use chumbal, the cloth we tie on our heads to carry sugarcane, as a sanitary pad during our periods," Sadhana Waghmare (32), a cane-cutting labourer from Maharashtra's Beed district said. 'While on the field, we have no time or safe place to wash or change clothes in the fields, so we continue using the same cloth. This causes itching, swelling and infections. Earlier, we had no one to share this with. Now, because of the Arogya Sakhis, at least someone listens and suggests solutions." In 2023, Waghmare was among 20 women trained under the Arogya Sakhi programme, a community health initiative for migrant cane-cutters in drought-prone Marathwada region. Every harvesting season, thousands of families migrate to work in the fields of western Maharashtra and beyond, with little access to healthcare. The programme – run by Society for Promotion Participative Ecosystem Management (SOPPECOM) and Anusandhan Trust Sathi – was born out of the Covid-19 pandemic, when SOPPECOM distributed notebooks to migrant workers to track their injuries, illnesses and health expenses during the lockdown. The data showed that basic health training for volunteers could help reduce medical emergencies. Arogya Sakhis are trained to offer first aid and distribute non-prescription medicines from standardised kits, with supplies provided by the Beed Zilla Parishad. The kits include essentials like paracetamol, oral rehydration salts, antiseptic lotion and cotton dressings. While the women work as volunteers, they receive a travel allowance of Rs 500 when applicable. To qualify, participants must have studied up to at least Class 7 and be literate. The initial seven-day training covered first aid, menstrual hygiene, and record-keeping, while subsequent batches received a condensed four-day version. Though many early trainees were cane-cutters with limited education, support from trainers in Pune helped them overcome unfamiliar medical vocabulary. Over time, they gained confidence and began offering health support not just at field sites but also in their home villages. By the second year, the programme's impact was visible. Volunteers were also representing their communities in Jana Aarogya Samitis or village health communities with the help of local grassroots groups like Mahila Ustod Sanghatana helped coordinate this outreach. 'There were no health services at the migration sites," said district convener Manisha Tokale. 'We realised that if even one woman in each group was trained, she could help others and connect them to care when needed." CYCLE OF NEGLECT During the migration season, labourers shift in pairs called koyta, typically husband and wife, and are paid Rs 350 to Rs 400 per ton of sugarcane cut. They are expected to meet a daily target of two tons which helps them get Rs 800 a day per pair. And, taking even a single day off, including for medical reasons, invites a penalty of Rs 1,200 from contractors. As a result, many workers continue cutting cane while unwell. 'These contractors are least bothered about the workers' health or rights," Ashok Tangade, president of the Beed District Child Welfare Committee said. 'The government says India is free of bonded labour, but sectors like sugarcane and brick kilns still practice bandhua majdoori. The contractor, farm owner and sugar factory are all responsible for providing medical facilities, but they shirk these responsibilities completely." As a result, Tangade said, labourers are squeezed from both ends: unable to afford medical care and punished if they try to access it. 'They work through illness, risking long-term harm. They compromise on nutrition, healthcare, even their children's education and vaccinations," he added. These labourers belong to Marathwada, a drought-prone region in central Maharashtra, comprising seven districts. The region lies in the rain shadow of the Western Ghats. With poor irrigation and limited industrial development, farming here is usually restricted to a single, rain-fed crop each year. As a result, thousands of families migrate annually to western Maharashtra and to other states such as Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu for sugarcane-cutting work. This pattern of migration began after the 1972 drought and has continued for over five decades. In many villages, the children of cane-cutters grow up expecting to follow the same path. From Beed district alone, over 10 lakh people migrate for the harvest season each year. Of them, more than 3 lakh are women, according to civil society estimates. A VOICE IN THE SYSTEM Over time, Arogya Sakhis have become important intermediaries between migrant women and the public health system, not just by treating symptoms, but by helping women articulate their needs and push for better access to care. Volunteers like Waghmare and Kalpana Thorat have repeatedly raised the demand for sanitary pads at Jan Aarogya Samiti meetings, even if the response has been slow. 'I have raised the sanitary pad issue with the Sarpanch before every migration season," said Thorat, a cane-cutter from Pimpalwadi village. 'He always promises, but we never receive anything. Even the ASHA worker in our Samiti could not help." Despite this, Thorat said she felt empowered to speak up. 'It is a major issue for migrant women. I am glad I was able to bring it up in front of the Samiti, which includes the Sarpanch, Community Health Officers, Primary Healthcare Centre nurses, Anganwadi and ASHA workers, and SHG members." Her efforts are recognised by others in the community. 'Every village should have someone like an Arogya Sakhi," said Shahnaj Ajbuddin Sayyad, president of the self-help group in Pimpalwadi and a member of the Samiti. 'I worked as a cane-cutter for 15 years. The ASHA worker gave us medicine sometimes, but her visits were irregular, and our work was unpredictable. With Arogya Sakhis we have a constant connection." BRIDGING LANGUAGE AND DISTANCE Waghmare recalled the difficulty of seeking care in unfamiliar places during migration. 'In Karnataka, my younger daughter was suffering from Unhali, a condition where you need to urinate frequently in summer," she said. 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Paracetamol helps with period pain, otherwise, the contractors don't allow rest during those days." Her work has extended beyond the fields into her village. 'Recently, my grandson got a cut on his foot. We were planning to take him to a private clinic, but by evening my son called me. I dressed the wound, and it saved us money," said Shantabai Pakhare, a 50-year-old villager from Pimpalwadi. 'Kalpana has helped us many times, especially when the PHC is closed at night." The programme has also led to visible cost savings. 'We used to spend Rs 25,000 during harvest season on medical expenses," said Waghmare. 'For the last two years, we've saved that money with the help of the Arogya Sakhi kit." During one migration, she said, she provided medicine to four tolis, about 40 to 50 people. After returning home, another 20 people from her village also benefited from the same kit, which contains paracetamol, Flura, Dome, cotton bandages, wool, Gentian violet antiseptic lotion and other over-the-counter medicines. 'I can now treat fever, diarrhoea, dehydration and minor injuries, and do basic bandaging," she said. 'This has helped both my own toli and others at the migration site." CHANGEMAKERS Arogya Sakhi training hasn't just improved healthcare access, it has helped cane-cutting women emerge as local health leaders. Many are now pushing for systemic change. The Mahila Ustod Sanghatana demanded that cane-cutting workers be included in the Jan Aarogya Samiti during the October-April migration season, so healthcare support continues in their villages while they're away. These demands were raised in women's assemblies and later passed in Gram Sabhas. In 2021, SOPPECOM began documenting the Arogya Sakhis' work. By 2022, it encouraged women to seek representation in the Samitis. In 2023-24, the key demands included Samiti membership and identity cards for migrant women. The Zilla Parishad initially resisted, citing budget constraints. But health advocates argued that representation would improve access to schemes, health camps and sanitation drives, and bring migrant women into the public health system. Identity cards, to be issued by local bodies, would formally recognise cane cutters and help them access aid during migration. Signature campaigns and follow-ups were carried out with the Chief Minister's Office and the District Health Officer. Lists of trained volunteers linked to PHCs were submitted. Despite early pushback, 28 Arogya Sakhis in Beed and 24 in Hingoli now work at the Gram Panchayat level. According to SOPPECOM, each migrant family saves an estimated Rs 25,000-Rs 30,000 per season on healthcare due to their work. Ahead of the 2024–25 season, the Beed Zilla Parishad organised refresher training and distributed new kits, which the Arogya Sakhis say lasted them beyond the migration period. 'I'm hopeful that thousands of trained women can work as Fadavarchi ASHA and support the 3 lakh women who migrate from Beed," said Manisha. Now, the administration is planning a new initiative: Arogya Mitra. Each migrant group will have a trained volunteer to coordinate with ASHA and Anganwadi workers. Training is expected to begin in August. top videos View all Former Zilla Parishad Chief Executive Officer Aditya Jivane said such women can offer first-line care, promote nutrition and immunisation, and help link remote camps to the health system. (Abhijeet Gurjar is a freelance journalist and a member of 101Reporters, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters.) Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! view comments Location : Pune, India, India First Published: August 13, 2025, 10:33 IST News india In Maharashtra, Cane-Cutting Women Are The Healthcare Lifelines For Migrant Communities Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
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Over 60% of ventilators at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, remain non-functional, severely impacting critical care services. Of the 95 ventilators received from the central government during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-21, only 35 are currently operational in the hospital's ICUs, while the rest have been left unused and stored away. This lapse poses a significant challenge to patient care in the 1,047-bed facility, which saw these machines fully utilised during the pandemic to support patients struggling to breathe. An official, speaking on condition of anonymity, criticised GMCH-32, for failing to alert the administration about the prolonged non-utilisation of ventilators. (HT Photo for representation) The GMCH-32, which serves not only the tricity but also patients from Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, received 95 ventilators during the COVID-19 pandemic at an estimated cost of ₹4 lakh each. These ventilators, supplied by Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited (BHEL), Jyoti Dhaman, and Covidien, now face operational hurdles, as the hospital cannot renew their comprehensive maintenance contracts (CMC) due to non-responsiveness from the manufacturers. Dr Sanjeev Palta, head of the anaesthesia department, stated that despite repeated attempts to contact BHEL and Jyoti Dhaman, the lack of contract renewal has rendered many ventilators unusable, affecting critical care for the region's patients. An official, speaking on condition of anonymity, criticised GMCH-32, for failing to alert the administration about the prolonged non-utilisation of ventilators. The official said, 'It was the institute's responsibility to maintain the equipment, renew the CMC, and ensure their smooth functioning rather than allowing them to deteriorate in a storage room.' While manufacturers have reportedly not responded to the hospital's requests for contract renewal, Dr Palta said a biomedical engineer at the institute is currently handling the upkeep of the 35 operational ventilators. 'These machines are being used across multiple critical care units, including medicine, pulmonary, surgical, paediatric and cardiology ICUs, as well as high-dependency unit catering to neurology, orthopaedics and gynaecology patients,' Dr Palta added. Chandigarh MP and chairman of the Rogi Kalyan Samiti governing body, Manish Tewari, has raised concerns over the large number of non-functional ventilators lying unused at the GMCH-32, for the past four years. Calling it a 'gross wastage' of government funds, MP Tewari said significant public money was spent on procuring these machines during the COVID-19 pandemic, yet they remain unutilised. He emphasised that they should be put to use without delay. The MP also revealed that in a recent governing body meeting, a proposal to purchase new ventilators for Government Multi Specialty Hospital (GMSH), Sector 16 was dropped after hospital officials admitted they lacked trained staff to operate them. Another major obstacle in bringing the unused ventilators at GMCH-32 into service is the acute shortage of trained staff, as operating an ICU ventilator requires an anaesthetist, two nurses, two resident doctors, a sweeper and an attendant in three shifts, along with relievers and rotators. The staffing challenge is mirrored at GMSH-16, where several ventilators supplied during COVID also remain defunct. Dr Suman Singh, director of health services, said many of the ventilators received during the pandemic are unsuitable for ICU use due to subpar performance. GMCH-32 director principal Dr Ashok Attri stated that ventilators are deployed according to the hospital's capacity, with about 35 high-end units currently in use, some shifted to the south campus. Apart from the 95 COVID ventilators, the institute also has another 50–60 ventilators spread across anaesthesia, medicine, surgery, respiratory medicine, and cardiology departments.
