HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. detailed the specific rationale for dismissing the CDC vaccine chief during a Fox News appearance. He alleged that the former official obstructed access to critical vaccine safety data for seven months and diverted funds intended for Texas’s measles outbreak response.
Kennedy criticized the individual for “stonewalling” efforts to obtain data crucial for evaluating vaccine safety, stating, “For 7 months, he stonewalled us so that we could not get that data.” He also condemned the person’s control over VAERS, a system capturing less than 1% of reported vaccine injuries, calling it “malpractice.”
Kennedy further accused the former CDC leader of undermining public health initiatives, including mandatory mask mandates, school closures, and business shutdowns. He emphasized the need for “new blood” at the agency, accusing the previous leadership of corruption.
The dismissed official, Demetre Daskalakis, faced additional scrutiny after right-wing figures highlighted his LGBTQ+ advocacy and alleged ties to satanic symbolism, including a pentagram tattoo. Daskalakis defended himself against these claims, calling them “so 2022.”
Kennedy’s remarks underscored his broader campaign against what he describes as systemic failures in public health policy.
