CDC Top Brass Resign Over Kennedy’s Vaccine Actions
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who currently directs the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), came into power with heavy promises of leading with paramount transparency, being faithful to the established standards of science, and upholding vaccine availability. However, higher-ups at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) argue that Kennedy’s actions have been strikingly divergent from his promises. This discrepancy triggered their collective resignation by the end of August, and they have since offered insights into the reported unrest within one of America’s primary health institutions.
It has been reported that Kennedy has been continuously undermining CDC officials and turning a blind eye toward established research, bypassing scientific norms to disseminate an ideology-based vaccine agenda, rather than one based on pure science. Kennedy has reportedly stacked a critical vaccine-advisory committee with individuals who are against vaccination and granted unrivaled access to a vaccine skeptic to sensitive segments of a CDC database. His office has mysteriously blocked a project which CDC scientists believe would improve data transparency. Moreover, he has made significant policy decisions, including altering vaccine recommendations, bypassing consultations with CDC’s top-notch scientists, as per the former officials.
One former official stated that there arrived a point where remaining with the CDC would be tantamount to complicity in Kennedy’s actions. They expressed their frustration and disbelief at the situation, saying they could no longer be part of an environment that abuses the CDC to generate policies that defy scientific facts and may, in fact, harm public health.
Monarez opened up about a recent meeting with Kennedy, alleging that she was directed to blanket approve all recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). The ACIP is an independent body intended to guide the CDC director on vaccination issues, though implementing its recommendations isn’t mandatory for the director. In June, in an act that shocked many, Kennedy dismissed all members of the ACIP and filled the vacancies with his teammates, some of whom are known anti-vaxxers. Monarez contends that she was removed from her post for refusing to bend scientific norms to political will.
An official spoke out about the alarming sidelining of key staff in discussions about vaccines, expressing concerns that ACIP is overseen by leaders who do not consider scientific input. They pointed out that this course would restrict the populace’s access to vaccines. Despite opposition, Kennedy justified the reshuffling at CDC and contested Monarez’s accounts of her firing, denying that such private meeting ever took place.
A spokesman for HHS, Andrew Nixon, stated that more changes could be on the horizon for CDC. He reinforced Kennedy’s view that the CDC has been a broken system for a while, and to reclaim its position as a reliable protector of public health, the organization would need ongoing reform and further staffing modifications.
During the inaugurative meeting of the newly installed ACIP, a discussion about the potential risks of thimerosal took place. The focus was on reports by anti-vaccine lobbyists linking thimerosal, a vaccine preservative, to autism. While CDC scientists provided documents before the meeting highlighting multiple studies showing no such connection, the ACIP suggested thimerosal’s expulsion from all vaccines. The HHS informed the public in July that it planned to implement this recommendation.
Reviewing and presenting scientific data and analyses to the Health Secretary forms one of the CDC’s key roles. This data also serves as a basis for public health policies and recommendations, and informs bodies such as ACIP. Yet, former officials have reported that Kennedy has mainly overlooked these duties, especially when related to vaccine data.
The plan was to establish a comprehensive and easily accessible platform, retold Layden. Unfortunately, this plan hinged on the approval from Kennedy’s office, which never came. Layden reported the lack of a clear reason for this decision, pointing out that withholding data transparency is contradictory to Kennedy’s proclaimed commitment to transparency.
Until last week, no one at CDC had any knowledge about the agenda for the upcoming ACIP meeting, which was set to be held this month. Such meetings typically involve CDC scientists well ahead of time, offering guidance and data to the committee. Yet, for the upcoming session, this early involvement was conspicuously absent.
A controversial figure opposing vaccines was given special access to the CDC’s Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD) by Kennedy, according to a former official. The VSD, a tool to monitor the safety of vaccines and study post-vaccination adverse events, is a joint initiative between the CDC and several large health care networks.
The ex-officials strongly express that the changes made by Kennedy in the vaccine policies are already affecting Americans adversely. Following adjustments to federal guidance on COVID-19 vaccines, leading pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens have started limiting access to COVID-19 vaccines in multiple states. Also, multi-dose flu vaccines, which contain thimerosal and are cost-effective compared to single-dose versions, are being phased out. These changes are likely to disproportionately impact rural and underserved areas that typically rely on these vaccines.
While these changes have unfolded, the former officials have expressed concern that Kennedy, who has previously voiced skepticism towards vaccines, will most likely continue to endorse an anti-vaccine agenda, which in their view, may pose a significant risk to the health of the American people.