Controversial Vaccine Skeptic Dr. Ralph Abraham Appointed to Key CDC Leadership Role
Dr. Ralph Abraham, a vaccine skeptic, is appointed principal deputy director at the CDC, sparking controversy amid a leadership vacuum and public health challenges.
Overview
- Dr. Ralph Abraham, a figure known for expressing skepticism about vaccines, has been appointed as the principal deputy director at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
- This significant appointment occurs while the CDC is currently without a permanent director, following the ousting of Susan Monarez, creating a leadership void.
- Abraham, who previously served as Louisiana's surgeon general, has publicly opposed Covid vaccines and ceased promoting mass vaccination efforts in his home state.
- His controversial appointment as the most senior scientist at the CDC adds to concerns regarding the increasing presence of vaccine skeptics in critical public health leadership positions.
- Meanwhile, Louisiana is currently grappling with its highest levels of flu-like illnesses and its most severe whooping cough outbreak in three decades.
Report issue
Read both sides in 5 minutes each day
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame this story by emphasizing the controversial nature of Ralph Abraham's CDC appointment, highlighting his history of opposing vaccinations and promoting "discredited remedies." They underscore his perceived unsuitability and lack of traditional qualifications for the role, often through prominent critical expert opinions and evaluative language, constructing a narrative of concern for public health integrity.
"The appointment of Louisiana Surgeon General Ralph Abraham, who has opposed widespread vaccination and promoted discredited remedies, has sparked outrage among public health experts who deem it dangerous and unqualified."
USA TODAY"Abraham’s appointment raises concerns about his history of opposing vaccines and the potential influence of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy’s distrust of vaccines on public health policy."
NBC NewsArticles (4)
FAQ
Dr. Ralph Abraham is a former Louisiana surgeon general and three-term congressman known for expressing skepticism about COVID-19 vaccines and opposing mass vaccination efforts in Louisiana.
Dr. Ralph Abraham was appointed as the principal deputy director at the CDC, effectively the second-in-command at the agency.
His appointment is controversial because he is a known vaccine skeptic who has publicly labeled COVID-19 vaccines as dangerous and halted promotion of mass vaccination, raising concerns about vaccine skeptics influencing public health leadership at the CDC.
The CDC is currently without a permanent director following the ousting of Susan Monarez, creating a leadership vacuum that Dr. Abraham's appointment partially fills.
Louisiana is experiencing its highest levels of flu-like illnesses and its most severe whooping cough outbreak in three decades while under Abraham's leadership as surgeon general.
History
- This story does not have any previous versions.