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Vaccine Skeptic Takes Top CDC Role
1 Dec
Summary
- A Louisiana physician known for vaccine skepticism is now at the CDC.
- The physician previously halted state vaccination campaigns.
- Concerns arise over his views on vaccine safety and public health policies.
Dr. Ralph Abraham, a physician previously serving as Louisiana's surgeon general, has been appointed to a high-ranking position at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as its principal deputy director. His tenure began on November 23, according to agency directories, and was later confirmed by the Department of Health and Human Services. Abraham's public statements have often challenged widely accepted public health guidelines, including calling COVID-19 vaccines "dangerous" and advocating for unproven treatments.
Abraham's past actions as Louisiana's surgeon general in 2024 included ordering a halt to mass vaccination campaigns and a delayed public notification regarding a deadly whooping cough outbreak. These decisions have been met with strong criticism from former health officials, who highlight the critical nature of timely public health responses and emergency preparedness, areas central to the CDC's mission.
Despite these controversies, Abraham now holds one of the highest medical positions within the CDC. His appointment occurs while the agency is led by an acting director who is not a physician. His past critiques of COVID-19 pandemic policies, which he described as "tyrannical," and his assertions about vaccine injuries, which are not supported by extensive research, add to the concerns surrounding his leadership role.
