Ex-head of the CDC reveals her reasons for choosing resignation
In a recent turn of events, Dr. Debra Houry, a former career official at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has expressed her concerns about the upcoming meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).
The crux of Dr. Houry's concerns revolves around the removal of a scientific document during the last ACIP meet, which occurred under Secretary Xavier Becerra's tenure. The document in question pertained to thimerosal, an additive in vaccines that has not been proven to cause autism.
This removal of the document led to a vote to remove thimerosal from vaccines, a decision that Dr. Houry finds concerning due to its lack of basis in data and science. She is also uncertain about how the new members of the Vaccine Advisory Committee appointed by Secretary Becerra might shape the panel of vaccine advisers.
Dr. Houry is particularly worried about the new members' past actions, such as promoting vaccine hesitancy and prescribing unapproved medications like ivermectin during COVID. She is also concerned about the lack of deep vaccine science expertise among the new ACIP members.
Moreover, Dr. Houry is troubled by the fact that presentations for the votes at the meeting were only posted this morning, instead of in advance. She also points out that at the CDC, 80% of centre and office directors are acting, and there is now a higher number of political appointees than ever in CDC's history.
Dr. Houry left the CDC after staying for eight months, refusing to put information up on two treatments that were not evidence-based. She hopes for work groups and the posting of data in advance of the meet, but as of her statement, such preparations had not been made.
Her departure from the CDC was due to an erosion of science and data, and a lack of trust in it. She also voices her concerns about the lack of public engagement in the ACIP meetings.
Dr. Houry's concerns are not unfounded. With the new ACIP members, there might be limited access to vaccines, removal of vaccines from the childhood schedule, and an increase in diseases such as measles, polio, and hepatitis.
Despite these concerns, it's important to note that Dr. Houry served at the CDC for over 10 years before her recent departure. She is joined by other scientists who share her concerns, and their voices add weight to the need for transparency and evidence-based decision-making in vaccine policy.
