Former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) immunizations chief Dr. Demetre Daskalakis has raised alarm over the future of U.S. public health under the leadership of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Daskalakis, who resigned from the CDC last week, said he fears the administration’s direction could undermine vaccination efforts and endanger Americans’ health.
Resignation in Protest
Daskalakis announced his resignation Thursday after the Department of Health and Human Services removed CDC Director Susan Monarez from her post. In his letter, he denounced Kennedy’s leadership, citing deep concerns about the department’s ideological shift on public health policy.
“From my vantage point as a doctor who’s taken the Hippocratic Oath, I only see harm coming,” Daskalakis said Sunday in an interview with ABC News’ This Week.
Concerns Over Vaccination Policy
The former CDC official pointed specifically to changes within the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which guides vaccine recommendations nationwide. According to Daskalakis, the committee’s new direction signals an intent to “undo” vaccination policies that have long been central to disease prevention.
“What I’ve seen and heard from the new members suggests a move in an ideological direction that threatens decades of progress in public health,” he said.
Growing Uncertainty at HHS
Kennedy, who has long been a prominent critic of vaccines, assumed leadership of the Department of Health and Human Services earlier this year. His appointment has sparked debate among medical experts and lawmakers, many of whom worry about potential setbacks in public health initiatives, particularly immunization campaigns.
Public health advocates fear that a reversal of vaccination policies could erode public trust, reduce coverage rates, and increase vulnerability to preventable diseases.
Looking Ahead
As HHS moves forward under Kennedy’s leadership, questions remain about how U.S. vaccination strategy will evolve. For Daskalakis, the risks are clear: “Based on what I’m seeing, I only see harm coming.”
