FDA Official Vinay Prasad Resigns Amid Booster Policy Controversy
Dr. Vinay Prasad has officially resigned from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), just three months into his tenure as Director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research and later as Chief Medical and Scientific Officer. The news comes amid internal conflicts over COVID-19 booster policies and mounting pressure from political influencers.
Vinay Prasad resigns from FDA after facing criticism from both inside the agency and outside, including a campaign by right-wing activist Laura Loomer who called attention to his progressive political affiliations. Loomer labeled him a “lifelong progressive with a vicious anti-Trump record,” arguing that his views were incompatible with the current administration’s goals.
Despite the pressure, FDA Commissioner Marty Markay publicly defended Prasad as “an impeccable scientist” and “one of the greatest scientific minds of our generation.”
Prasad, known for his vocal criticism of the FDA’s prior booster strategy, notably pushed back on his predecessor Dr. Peter Marks, calling him “one of the most dangerous, pro-pharma regulators of the 21st century.” Prasad has long argued that booster approvals lacked robust randomized clinical trial data, particularly for younger populations.
Under Prasad’s leadership, the FDA shifted its stance on COVID-19 boosters, narrowing recommendations to individuals aged 65 and older or those with high-risk conditions. He also required vaccine makers like Moderna and Novavax to provide new clinical trial data before receiving further approvals for younger, healthier demographics.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said in a statement, “Dr. Prasad did not want to be a distraction to the great work of the FDA in the Trump administration and has decided to return to California and spend more time with his family.” HHS thanked him for his “important reforms.”
His departure follows the release of internal FDA documents showing Prasad overruled staff recommendations in decisions affecting the authorization of COVID-19 vaccines, fueling debate over whether his leadership reflected scientific rigor or overreach.
Prasad’s exit leaves open questions about the future of vaccine policy and regulatory independence within the FDA. It also marks a significant flashpoint in the ongoing debate over pandemic-era health measures and the politicization of science in government institutions.
DailyClout.IO will continue to cover this story. Source article posted here.
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