By Katie Rogers, Reid J. Epstein and Gina Kolata
On Saturday, Vice President Kamala Harris made public a letter from her White House physician, who confirmed that she is in “excellent health” while effectively managing some minor health concerns.
According to Joshua R. Simmons, the vice president’s physician, Harris, 59, experiences seasonal allergies, mild nearsightedness, and skin hives, for which she utilizes both over-the-counter and prescribed medications.
Simmons noted in a two-page letter that resembled a briefing rather than a complete medical examination report, “Vice President Harris remains in excellent health. She possesses the necessary physical and mental resilience to carry out the responsibilities of the presidency, including those as chief executive, head of state, and commander in chief.”
As stated by Simmons, Harris has not been diagnosed with diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis, or neurological disorders.
The disclosure of Harris’ medical details comes as her rival, former President Donald Trump, who is 78 years old and the oldest individual to become a presidential nominee, has not provided similar fundamental health information. Both candidates have restricted journalists from posing additional inquiries to their physicians.
Since presidential candidates are not obligated to disclose health records — their medical data is considered as private as that of any other citizen — medical statements during campaign seasons are frequently employed to create an overly positive portrayal of individuals running for office. With Election Day fast approaching, Harris’ team aims to highlight the contrast between her medical disclosures and Trump’s reluctance to share his, raising inquiries regarding her opponent’s health.
While speaking to reporters on Saturday, Harris did just that, implying that Trump and his team did not “want the American public to truly see his actions and whether he is fit to serve as president.”
When asked about any possible decline in his mental sharpness, she responded, “I encourage the public to observe his rallies and make their own decisions.”
She remarked that Trump “discusses fictional figures at his rallies” and “fabricates information.”
Steven Cheung, Trump campaign’s communications director, stated on Saturday that medical professionals for the former president have indicated he is in “perfect and excellent health.” Additionally, the Trump campaign did not provide an answer to a question regarding whether Trump would disclose his health records.
In Simmons’ letter, which utilized White House Military Office letterhead, he indicated that he has been treating Harris since her assumption of the vice presidency and conducted her latest health examination in April.
He characterized her as “a healthy 59-year-old female” who experiences hay fever, allergies due to seasonal pollen, and skin hives. To manage both her allergies and hives, Simmons noted she takes Allegra, a common allergy medication, along with eye drops and nasal sprays, and that her condition, which he classified as mild, does not hinder her activities.
Although the letter did not specify her height or weight, Dr. Gordon Guyatt, an internal medicine expert at McMaster University in Canada, considered the letter “quite comprehensive.” It noted her blood pressure as 128/74 and heart rate at 78, both within normal ranges, and mentioned that she regularly exercises and engages in strength training.
Simmons disclosed in the letter that the vice president is mildly nearsighted and uses contact lenses, but she can read comfortably without them. Her vision without contacts is 20/40 in the right eye and 20/25 in the left eye, as per his report. With the use of contacts or glasses, her vision is 20/20.
The letter also reveals that as a 3-year-old, Harris underwent an appendectomy to address a blockage in her intestine, marking her only surgical procedure, according to Simmons.
Simmons further noted that Harris takes a vitamin D3 supplement and follows “a vigorous daily aerobic exercise regimen along with core strength training.” In a recent chat with Howard Stern, Harris mentioned that she dedicates 30 to 45 minutes each morning working out on an elliptical trainer.
Simmons described her dietary habits as “very healthy,” indicated that she does not “consume tobacco products,” and stated that she drinks alcohol “only occasionally and in moderation.”
Trump has turned down demands to provide new details about his health despite previously promising to do so. After he was grazed by a bullet from a would-be assassin at a rally over the summer, his campaign failed to offer a briefing, release hospital documentation, or make the emergency medical personnel who aided him available for conversations.
During his presidency, Trump was hospitalized in 2020 after contracting COVID-19, and his medical team at that time did not fully disclose his sickness to the public. The limited health information provided stands in stark contrast to the portrayal his former doctor presented of him during the 2015 campaign, claiming he would be “the healthiest person ever elected to the presidency.”
Trump informed CBS News in August that he would “gladly” share his medical records with the public, yet he did not reply to a request for such information from The New York Times. The Times also sought health records last month for Harris and her running mate, Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota, along with interviews with their doctors, but the campaign did not respond.
