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A top official at the CDC has stepped down — and he’s not going quietly.
Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, who oversaw immunization efforts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, resigned last week after what he calls a disturbing shift in the agency’s leadership and priorities. His departure comes in the wake of President Trump’s removal of CDC Director Susan Monarez and growing influence from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
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🧬 “I Only See Harm Coming”
In an interview on ABC’s This Week, Daskalakis said he felt morally compelled to leave, claiming that Kennedy’s policies signal a retreat from science-based public health — especially when it comes to vaccination.
“As a doctor who took an oath to do no harm, I only see harm coming,” he said.
He pointed to new directions given to the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel, which he says are based more on ideology than evidence. One example? A policy shift that restricts COVID-19 vaccinations for young children only to those with known health conditions.
“The data doesn’t support that,” Daskalakis said. “More than half the toddlers hospitalized last season had no underlying conditions. Their risk factor is simply being young.”
⚠️ New Leadership, New Concerns
Daskalakis also voiced deep distrust in the CDC’s new acting director, Jim O’Neill — a former HHS official with tech-industry ties and a history of criticizing public health agencies online.
“He’s already suggesting CDC data is manipulated,” Daskalakis said. “If he doesn’t trust his own team, how can he lead it?”
He warned that politicizing science would erode public trust and hinder the CDC’s ability to respond to future health crises.
🧫 What’s Happening at the CDC?
This leadership shake-up follows broader efforts by the Trump administration and RFK Jr. to reshape public health policy — particularly around vaccines and COVID-19 protocols. Several top officials have resigned since the changes began, including Daskalakis.
He said he had long been concerned but finally decided to leave when he saw the firewall between science and politics collapse.
“We’re no longer in a space where science leads,” he said. “Without that, it’s impossible to protect public health.”
🍴 Supper Takeaway
Public health might not always make headlines — until something big breaks. This isn’t just about one doctor resigning. It’s about who decides what science gets followed, and what’s at risk when those decisions get politicized.
In times like these, trust in institutions — and the people inside them — matters more than ever.
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