By Melissa Quinn,Sara Moniuszko

Copyright cbsnews

Sen. Patty Murray, a Democrat from Washington, asked Houry to discuss how she learned of the CDC’s new guidance about the COVID-19 vaccine, and Houry reiterated that she learned of it through social media.

“It is unthinkable to me that the chief medical officer at CDC was left in the dark about such a consequential public health decision that affected real people,” Murray said.

Asked whether the change was supported by scientific evidence, Houry said scientists at the CDC haven’t yet seen the data. She told Murray that she asked for a written memo from HHS because “I couldn’t implement guidance off of a tweet.”

Houry said that while CDC officials asked for data to back up the changed guidance for the COVID vaccine, “we have not received the data to date.”

Turning to the childhood vaccination schedule for measles, chicken pox and hepatitis B, Monarez said she is not aware of any scientific evidence to support changing the age for receiving those shots.

“I was certainly open if there were scientific data sets or evidence associated with anything that would help keep our children safe. I was open to seeing it. I have not seen that data directly,” Monarez said.

Houry said she had asked for the data and modeling to support those decisions as to the childhood vaccine data, but has not seen it.