UPDATE: Former CDC immunizations chief Dr. Demetre Daskalakis has raised alarming concerns regarding the future of public health under Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who recently assumed leadership of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Daskalakis, who resigned from his position on August 24, 2023, expressed his fears during an interview on ABC News on August 27, 2023, stating, “I only see harm coming.”
The resignation comes on the heels of HHS’s controversial removal of CDC Director Susan Monarez, a decision that has sparked widespread criticism. Daskalakis, a respected figure in immunization policy, voiced his deep concerns about the ideological shift he perceives within the HHS and CDC. He remarked, “From my vantage point as a doctor who’s taken the Hippocratic Oath, they’re really moving in an ideological direction where they want to see the undoing of vaccination.”
Daskalakis’s statements underscore a growing unease among health professionals regarding the new direction of the CDC, particularly with the recent appointments to the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP). His resignation letter highlights a significant departure from scientific consensus in favor of ideological agendas, which he believes could jeopardize public health.
The implications of these changes are significant. With vaccination rates already declining in some areas, Daskalakis’s warnings may resonate with both healthcare providers and the public. As health officials grapple with misinformation and vaccine hesitancy, the leadership at HHS and the CDC will play a crucial role in shaping future public health strategies.
This story is developing rapidly as experts and officials respond to Daskalakis’s claims. Observers are urged to stay tuned for further updates on this urgent issue that could impact healthcare policies across the nation.
