“Amusing and Disturbing” - Brinson Responds to ADPH Head Harris

Guest Opinion by Dr. Randy Brinson, Chairman, Christian Coalition of Alabama

Editor’s note: Recently, Dr. Scott Harris, Alabama’s State Health Officer, took part in an American Public Health Association panel entitled “Together Towards Better Health: The Future of Public Health.” The panel featured Health Officers from New York, Minnesota, California and Georgia, in addition to Alabama, and was moderated by Dr. Debra Houry. Until last August, Dr. Houry worked at the Centers for Disease Control as Chief Medical Officer and Deputy Director for Program and Science, before resigning over conflicts with Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his stance on vaccination.

During the panel, Dr. Harris opined on public health officials working with religious and faith – based organizations to carry out their mission of public health.

“Coming from a southern red State that's mostly rural, the faith communities are the natural allies for us,” Harris said. “And sometimes, we're a government agency, and this is a religious organization, and we get a little uncertain of our footing sometimes, and so on. But these are the hearts of most of our rural communities, at least in my State.

“And those are the people who really are the trusted messengers. They're the messengers. And so, finding more opportunities to work with them closely over things that no one can disagree on. Good nutrition and keeping kids healthy for school, and making sure women can deliver their babies safely, and there's no disagreement over any of those things. They're really natural allies that we need to work with even more than we do.”

ALPolitics.com reached out to several local organizations for their response to Dr. Harris’ remarks.

Dr. Randy Brinson’s response is below:

At a recent panel discussion at the American Public Health Association, Dr Scott Harris, Chief Health Officer of Alabama Public Health Service, advocated that public health officials need to build public trust and he planned to form alliances with religious and faith organizations in Alabama to achieve his public health goals. As a physician and faith leader here in Alabama, this goal can only be achieved if Dr Harris, CDC, NIH, and other governmental public health entities apologize for their missteps and frank disregard for the concerns of the faith organizations across America. 

I remember vividly when early in the Covid crisis, I, along with about 10 other physicians traveled to Mar-a-Lago at the invitation of President Trump. We were there to highlight the input of physician activists in shaping the policy regarding the Covid response and reliable therapeutic options for the virus. Despite this continuous input to the White House from numerous physicians who were on the frontline in the Covid fight, they were overruled by Dr. Birx and Dr. Fauci, who had a financial interest in the vaccine production and widespread distribution of the vaccine to the general public regardless of risk. 

This was further complicated by the disparity of racial mortality, with Blacks, elderly, diabetics and those with metabolic syndrome, dying from the disease. 

Dr. Harris echoed the edicts of Dr. Fauci, advocating widespread business and school closures, mask mandates, and closure of houses of worship, despite little evidence of efficacy, but having drastic consequences, both emotionally, spiritually and economically.

I later met with Alabama Public Health epidemiologists and Dr Harris, to express my concern over the adoption of widespread vaccines, over tried and effective therapeutic options. He and the staff were totally dismissive, continuing a relentless campaign to vaccinate everyone, even compelling health providers to take the vaccine or lose their privileges to practice medicine. I had found that the gut, not the lung, was the harbinger of the "cytokine storm" that was the cause of death in the Covid patients and that a dysbiosis of the gut led to a greater affinity for the viral virulence in the high risk groups, such as diabetics, Blacks and the elderly. We further showed that protein loss from the gut further confirmed this association and deadly outcome and treating the gut could prevent the cytokine storm. All of this data was totally disregarded because it would limit the need for widespread vaccines. Likewise, Covid researchers at UAB were also dismissive of this research findings, stating that their research had to only focus on vaccine development and nothing else.

So I find this quite amusing and disturbing that Dr. Harris now thinks that the faith community will have any confidence in public health officials, when their hubris led to the deaths of millions of Americans, and ongoing Covid injury from vaccine administration, that is continued to be pushed despite lack of efficacy. 

We providers and those that lead Christian organizations, along with pastors, lay ministers, and nonprofits are ready to engage Alabama health officials, but only when they accept their failures to protect Alabama families because of greed and pharmaceutical profits, instead of the science and evidence based experience. In fact, Dr. Birx admitted as much in her subsequent memoirs.

It is my prayer that this discussion can be open and educational and that never again can pharmaceutical profits and greed displace protecting Alabama families and their children. Our future depends on nothing less. This healing can begin with Dr. Harris's apologies and repentance.

Dr. Randy Brinson is a Montgomery gastroenterologist and U.S. Air Force Veteran. He earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia, trained in internal medicine at the University of Florida and completed a gastroenterology fellowship at the Medical College of Georgia. He holds board credentials in internal medicine and gastroenterology and is a fellow of the American Gastroenterological Association and American College of Nutrition.

Brinson founded Redeem the Vote in 2003 to encourage voter registration and civic involvement among people of faith, especially young Christians. He also serves as Chairman of the Christian Coalition of Alabama and has long been active in conservative politics and faith-based voter outreach.

Opinions do not reflect the views and opinions of ALPolitics.com. ALPolitics.com makes no claims nor assumes any responsibility for the information and opinions expressed above.

The full panel discussion, “Together Towards Better Health: The Future of Public Health,” may be seen on Vimeo and below. Dr. Harris’ statement on working with faith organizations begins at ~46:00.