The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has stirred controversy with its latest leadership move. Retsef Levi, a member of its key vaccine panel, has been chosen to lead the CDC’s COVID-19 immunization workgroup, a spokesperson confirmed to Reuters on Monday.
Levi has previously voiced strong concerns about mRNA vaccines,
“Saying they can cause serious harm and death, especially among children,”
Even called for their immediate withdrawal. His appointment comes at a time when the CDC continues to navigate sensitive vaccine guidance.
CDC Workgroup Responsibilities and Recent Guidance
The CDC’s COVID-19 immunization workgroup is responsible for reviewing data on the safety, effectiveness, and immune response of all COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the United States. Earlier this year, the agency updated its guidance for children, stating the vaccine “can be given to healthy children aged six months through 17 years if parents and doctors agree on the need for the shot.” At the same time, it withdrew its recommendation for pregnant women.
Leadership Shakeup and Committee Composition
Levi joined the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) in June, following Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr.’s dismissal of all 17 previous members. The new workgroup “would not be headed by CDC staff members as it had been previously,” according to Endpoints News. Other ACIP members joining Levi on the committee include James Pagano and Robert Malone, who is also known as a vocal critic of mRNA vaccines.
This leadership change marks a significant shift in who is guiding U.S. COVID-19 vaccine policy and has sparked debate among health experts, policymakers, and the public alike. With vaccine safety and guidance still under scrutiny, all eyes are now on how the newly appointed workgroup will influence future recommendations.
