Big News: CDC Head Evolves on Condoms and Needle Exchange Policy

By James Lee, Government Relations Manager

Earlier this week, Dr. Robert Redfield, the head of the Centers for Disease Control, came out in favor of condoms and needle exchange policy as a means to combat HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Redfield previously held a longstanding view of abstinence as a means of prevention.

“I think the data is just clear that these strategies work. When you see evidence that these strategies work, you need to embrace them,” Redfield told the Associated Press.

Needle exchange policies allow for public health care providers to get people into treatment programs, and have been shown to combat the transmission of communicable, blood borne diseases like HIV.

“We do have the tools to end this epidemic. Let’s use them,” said Redfield.