CDC Names Doctor Who Promotes Natural Immunity as Principal Deputy Director Amid Controversy Over Vaccine Views
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has appointed Louisiana Surgeon General Ralph Abraham as its new principal deputy director, a decision that has been met with criticism from public health experts who label his views on vaccines as "dangerous" and "irresponsible." Despite the controversy surrounding his appointment, Abraham's experience running a public health system is seen as a plus by some.
Abraham's stance on vaccination is not new. He has long expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of vaccines, including those for COVID-19. In February, he ordered his state's health department to stop promoting mass vaccinations and barred staff from running seasonal vaccine campaigns. Earlier this year, he told a news outlet that he prefers "natural immunity" over vaccines.
However, Abraham's views on vaccination are not out of line with those of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has been instrumental in pushing for the appointment of Abraham to the CDC position. Kennedy has himself made headlines for his anti-vaccine views and conspiracy theories, including claims that COVID-19 vaccines cause autism.
The appointment of Abraham to a senior position at the CDC is seen as a significant blow to efforts to promote vaccination and prevent the spread of infectious diseases in the US. His views on natural immunity over vaccines are not supported by scientific evidence, and many experts fear that his influence could undermine public health initiatives aimed at protecting Americans from vaccine-preventable diseases.
Abraham's experience running Louisiana's health department has also raised questions about his approach to public health. The state experienced a deadly whooping cough outbreak in 2018 under Abraham's leadership, which was not promptly informed to residents. His record on prescribing opioids is also troubling, as he was once one of the top opioid prescribers in the state.
The appointment of Abraham to the CDC has sparked calls for greater scrutiny of his views and experience. As the agency seeks to promote vaccination and prevent the spread of infectious diseases, concerns about Kennedy's influence over public health policy are growing. The appointment of Abraham as principal deputy director raises questions about whether the CDC is truly committed to protecting Americans from vaccine-preventable diseases.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has appointed Louisiana Surgeon General Ralph Abraham as its new principal deputy director, a decision that has been met with criticism from public health experts who label his views on vaccines as "dangerous" and "irresponsible." Despite the controversy surrounding his appointment, Abraham's experience running a public health system is seen as a plus by some.
Abraham's stance on vaccination is not new. He has long expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of vaccines, including those for COVID-19. In February, he ordered his state's health department to stop promoting mass vaccinations and barred staff from running seasonal vaccine campaigns. Earlier this year, he told a news outlet that he prefers "natural immunity" over vaccines.
However, Abraham's views on vaccination are not out of line with those of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has been instrumental in pushing for the appointment of Abraham to the CDC position. Kennedy has himself made headlines for his anti-vaccine views and conspiracy theories, including claims that COVID-19 vaccines cause autism.
The appointment of Abraham to a senior position at the CDC is seen as a significant blow to efforts to promote vaccination and prevent the spread of infectious diseases in the US. His views on natural immunity over vaccines are not supported by scientific evidence, and many experts fear that his influence could undermine public health initiatives aimed at protecting Americans from vaccine-preventable diseases.
Abraham's experience running Louisiana's health department has also raised questions about his approach to public health. The state experienced a deadly whooping cough outbreak in 2018 under Abraham's leadership, which was not promptly informed to residents. His record on prescribing opioids is also troubling, as he was once one of the top opioid prescribers in the state.
The appointment of Abraham to the CDC has sparked calls for greater scrutiny of his views and experience. As the agency seeks to promote vaccination and prevent the spread of infectious diseases, concerns about Kennedy's influence over public health policy are growing. The appointment of Abraham as principal deputy director raises questions about whether the CDC is truly committed to protecting Americans from vaccine-preventable diseases.
. I mean, come on, someone with these views leading the CDC? It's like, not exactly the most reassuring news when it comes to public health. And I'm all for critical thinking and exploring alternative approaches, but when you're talking about vaccines, we need to be basing our decisions on science, not conspiracy theories or personal opinions 
. This appointment feels like a step backwards to me 
. Can't they just stick with the evidence-based approach? It's so frustrating when it seems like some people are more interested in spreading misinformation than actually helping people 
.
I'm really worried about this new move by the CDC. A doctor who thinks vaccines aren't that effective should be in charge of promoting them? It just doesn't add up. 
I mean, I get that we all want to hear both sides of the story, but when it comes to public health, we need to rely on science and evidence-based medicine. Not some personal opinion or conspiracy theories 
. And what's really concerning is that this guy has a history of running things in Louisiana with some pretty questionable decisions 
. Like, what's next? Appointing a climate change denier as head of NASA? 
It's just so frustrating when people with no medical background try to tell us how to stay healthy. I mean, natural immunity is one thing, but when you're not even a doctor and you're basically telling the public that vaccines are a bad idea... yeah, that's not okay 
. And don't even get me started on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s influence over this appointment 
. I guess we'll just have to wait and see how this plays out, but I'm not holding my breath 
.
. And with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s influence involved, I think we're in for a wild ride 
. The thought of someone who's promoted anti-vaxx views and conspiracy theories getting a foothold in a place that's supposed to be about evidence-based medicine is just concerning 
. What if this affects the way vaccines are promoted or even pushed in schools? It's not like they haven't been working hard to get kids vaccinated already 
. This feels like a step backwards 
, did you see that new CDC head? Ralph Abraham is like, super anti-vaxx 
. Like, he thinks natural immunity is way better than actual vaccines 
. And get this - his state was in the middle of a whooping cough outbreak during his tenure as health sec 
! Not to mention, opioids were like, everywhere under him too 
. I'm literally shaking thinking about all the vaccine-preventable diseases he's gonna let loose on us 
.
We need experts who are evidence-based, not spreading conspiracy theories and pseudoscience. Where's the data to support natural immunity over vaccines? 
this news is super worrying... I mean, who wants their healthcare agency headed by someone who thinks natural immunity is better than vaccines? 
I get that we need to be careful about vaccination, but there's a huge difference between being cautious and spreading misinformation. 
. And what's with him being friends with that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. guy? I've heard some crazy conspiracy theories from him before, so I'm definitely not cool with this appointment. We need people who actually know what they're talking about when it comes to public health, not someone who thinks vaccines are bad news 
. I mean, natural immunity vs vaccines is just a myth perpetuated by some ppl. Vaccines have been saving lives for decades, and we're not done yet 
. It's concerning that someone with Abraham's views is now influencing public health policy at the CDC. As much as I get his experience in running Louisiana's health department, it's gotta be put into perspective – what happened under his watch? The whooping cough outbreak and opioid prescriptions issues are red flags 
.
. It's not a conspiracy theory; it's just basic science 
. The CDC's role is to protect Americans, and that's gotta be their top priority 
. They used to be all about protecting Americans from preventable diseases, but now it seems like they're just playing catch-up to anti-vaxxers. This is a huge blow to public health efforts and I'm not sure how much more of this we can take