Former CDC Immunizations Chief Warns of ‘Harm’ Under RFK Jr.’s HHS Leadership Amid Vaccine Policy Overhaul
Washington, D.C. – August 31, 2025
In a stark rebuke of the Trump administration’s health policies, former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) immunizations chief Dr. Demetre Daskalakis has resigned in protest, declaring that he “only sees harm coming” from Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s direction of public health efforts. Daskalakis, who stepped down on August 28 following the firing of CDC Director Susan Monarez, voiced deep concerns over ideological shifts in vaccine advisory processes, warning that the changes could undermine decades of scientific progress and endanger public safety. His comments, aired on ABC News’ “This Week,” come amid a turbulent summer at the CDC marked by leadership purges, mass resignations, and fears of politicized health decisions, spotlighting the growing rift between vaccine experts and the administration’s vaccine-skeptical agenda.
Key Details of Daskalakis’ Resignation and CDC Turmoil
Daskalakis, who served as director of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases until his resignation, cited the breakdown of the “firewall between science and ideology” as a primary reason for his departure. In his resignation letter, he criticized Kennedy’s oversight of both HHS and the CDC, particularly the replacement of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) with members perceived as ideologically driven. The ACIP, a 17-member panel of independent experts, advises on vaccine safety, efficacy, and recommendations for the U.S. population.
The upheaval began in June 2025 when Kennedy abruptly removed all 17 ACIP members, claiming the panel was “plagued with persistent conflicts of interest” and acted as a “rubber stamp” for vaccines. He appointed eight new members, including vocal critics like Retsef Levi, who has called for halting mRNA COVID-19 vaccines due to alleged harms. This move, unprecedented in the committee’s 60-year history, was followed by the firing of CDC Director Susan Monarez on August 27 after she refused to align with Kennedy’s vaccine policies, including potential links between immunizations and autism—a claim debunked by extensive scientific research.
Daskalakis’ exit is part of a wave of departures: Over 750 HHS employees, including top CDC officials like Dr. Debra Houry, signed a letter in August accusing Kennedy of spreading misinformation that endangers workers and the public. The letter, addressed to Congress and Kennedy, linked the rhetoric to a deadly August 8 shooting at CDC headquarters in Atlanta, where gunman Patrick Joseph White fired 500 rounds, killing officer David Rose. White blamed the COVID-19 vaccine for his mental health issues, a narrative experts say was fueled by anti-vaccine misinformation.
Kennedy’s actions also include halting routine COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for healthy children and pregnant women, canceling pandemic vaccine discovery programs, and funding research into vaccine-autism links despite consensus from bodies like the American Medical Association that no causal connection exists. These changes have led to declining childhood vaccination rates, with measles cases surging amid an ongoing outbreak—the worst since the disease was declared eliminated in 2000.
Quotes from Officials and Experts
Dr. Daskalakis, speaking to ABC News’ Martha Raddatz, elaborated on his fears: “From my vantage point as a doctor who’s taken the Hippocratic Oath, I only see harm coming. I may be wrong, but based on what I’m seeing, based on what I’ve heard with the new members of the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices, or ACIP, they’re really moving in an ideological direction where they want to see the undoing of vaccination.” He added, “I didn’t think that we were going to be able to present science in a way free of ideology… Not having a scientific leader at CDC meant that we wouldn’t be able to have the necessary diplomacy and connection with HHS to be able to really execute on good public health.”
Former acting CDC Director Dr. Richard Besser, now CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, echoed these concerns: “The difference is going to be profound. The CDC is an absolutely critical piece of the protection for Americans from any public health threat. Now, with the director being removed, senior leadership leaving, I have great fears for what will happen to this country the next time we face a public health emergency, whether it’s a massive earthquake, a new infectious agent or, unfortunately, the next pandemic.”
Dr. Tom Frieden, former CDC Director under President Obama, called the ACIP purge “a dangerous and unprecedented action that makes our families less safe,” warning it could reduce vaccine access for millions and fuel preventable diseases like measles and whooping cough.
Kennedy defended his reforms in a Wall Street Journal op-ed, stating, “A clean sweep is needed to re-establish public confidence in vaccine science,” and emphasizing “unbiased science evaluated through a transparent process and insulated from conflicts of interest.”
Background: RFK Jr.’s Vaccine Skepticism and HHS Overhaul
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime vaccine skeptic and founder of the anti-vaccine group Children’s Health Defense, was confirmed as HHS Secretary in early 2025 despite controversy over his history of promoting debunked claims, such as vaccines causing autism. His tenure has seen sweeping changes: In June, he ousted the entire ACIP, replacing members with appointees like MIT’s Retsef Levi, who has advocated stopping mRNA vaccines. This followed the removal of CDC vaccine recommendations for certain groups and cuts to funding for vaccine research, including HIV and bird flu programs.
The moves contradict Kennedy’s confirmation promises to Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), who voted for his nomination after assurances of no ACIP changes. Cassidy later expressed fears the panel would be “filled up with people who know nothing about vaccines except suspicion.” Public health groups like the American Medical Association have called for Senate investigations, labeling the actions “reckless” and harmful to trust in institutions.
The August 8 CDC shooting, where White cited vaccine-induced depression in his manifesto, has been linked by critics to misinformation amplified by Kennedy. Over 750 HHS staff petitioned for him to affirm CDC’s scientific integrity and protect workers, but HHS responded by praising Kennedy’s commitment to “Make America Healthy Again.”
Potential Impacts and Next Steps
Daskalakis’ resignation and the ongoing CDC shakeup could exacerbate vaccine hesitancy, leading to outbreaks of preventable diseases like measles (already surging) and straining public health resources. Declining immunization rates may increase healthcare costs and mortality, particularly among children, while the politicization of ACIP risks biased recommendations that limit vaccine access. Experts warn of vulnerability to future pandemics, with the CDC’s weakened leadership hindering emergency responses.
Next steps include the ACIP’s September 18-19 meeting, where the new panel may vote on vaccines for hepatitis B, COVID-19, RSV, and MMR, potentially altering schedules. Senate oversight, led by Cassidy, could include hearings on the firings and misinformation’s role in the shooting. Kennedy faces calls for resignation from Democrats like Sen. Chuck Schumer, while legal challenges to HHS cuts loom. Public health advocates urge Congress to restore funding and protect ACIP’s independence.
In conclusion, Dr. Demetre Daskalakis’ resignation and dire warning of “harm” under RFK Jr.’s HHS leadership underscore a crisis at the CDC, driven by ideological overhauls that threaten vaccine science and public trust. The key takeaway? In an era of misinformation, safeguarding evidence-based health policies is essential to protect vulnerable populations—urging citizens to support independent public health institutions and stay informed on vaccination facts.