Biden-era CDC director for immunization, respiratory diseases resigns over concerns for 'pregnant people' under new vax schedule

A Biden-era Director for the Centers for Disease Control's (CDC) National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases has resigned over his concerns for "pregnant people," otherwise known as mothers, under the new vaccine schedule that has been proposed under the Trump administration, with Robert F Kennedy Jr as the Secretary for Health and Human Services (HHS). This comes as CDC Director Susan Monarez was fired after refusing to resign on Wednesday.

In a resignation letter, Director of the CDC for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases Demetre Daskalakis, a gay health activist, wrote, "I am writing to formally resign from my position as Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), effective August 28, 2025, close of business. I am happy to stay on for two weeks to provide transition, if requested."

He added that the decision was not "easy" and that "after much contemplation and reflection on recent developments and perspectives brought to light by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., I find that the views he and his staff have shared challenge my ability to continue in my current role at the agency and in the service of the health of the American people. Enough is enough."

He added, "I am unable to serve in an environment that treats CDC as a tool to generate policies and materials that do not reflect scientific reality and are designed to hurt rather than to improve the public’s health. The recent change in the adult and children’s immunization schedule threaten the lives of the youngest Americans and pregnant people. The data analyses that supported this decision have never been shared with CDC despite my respectful requests to HHS and other leadership. This lack of meaningful engagement was further compounded by a 'frequently asked questions' document written to support the Secretary’s directive that was circulated by HHS without input from CDC subject matter experts and that cited studies that did not support the conclusions that were attributed to these authors. Having worked in local and national public health for years, I have never experienced such radical non-transparency, nor have I seen such unskilled manipulation of data to achieve a political end rather than the good of the American people."

On Wednesday, Kennedy announced that the FDA would restrict the Covid-19 vaccine for healthy adults and children. This came after the shot was no longer recommended for pregnant women as well as children earlier this year.  

He then took issue with what he called "lack of communication by HHS and other CDC political leadership that culminates in social media posts announcing major policy changes," and pointed to the “announcement of the change in the COVID-19 recommendations for children and pregnant people, the firing of scientists from ACIP by X post and an op-ed rather than direct communication with these valuable experts, the announcement of new ACIP members by X before onboarding and vetting have completed, and the release of term of reference for an ACIP workgroup that ignored all feedback from career staff at CDC."

Demetre Daskalakis was brought into the Biden administration as the monkeypox deputy response coordinator when he was first appointed in 2022, per Politico. When he was appointed, many online were critical of the photos he had on social media, including him in bondage gear, having many tattoos, and was known as "a progressive, radical gay doctor." He previously dressed in drag as a nurse to give meningitis vaccines in New York City and worked on activism campaigns to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS.