The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) top vaccine official, who was part of the first Trump administration’s Operation Warp Speed, has reportedly been forced out of his position, according to a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report.
A Health and Human Services (HHS) allegedly gave Dr. Peter Marks a choice between resigning or being fired, the WSJ reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
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“It has become clear that truth and transparency are not desired by the secretary, but rather he wishes subservient confirmation of his misinformation and lies,” Marks allegedly wrote in his resignation letter. WSJ reports his resignation will go into effect on April 5.
WSJ reported that people familiar with the matter said Marks’ stance on vaccines conflicted with that of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Kennedy, an outspoken vaccine skeptic, was asked about the issue of immunizations during his confirmation hearing. However, he stressed that he was not “anti-vaccine” and defined himself as “pro-safety.” He also revealed during his hearing that “all of my kids are vaccinated, and I believe vaccines have a critical role in healthcare.”
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Recently, Kennedy’s stance on vaccines was put to the test as measles spread in Texas. He told Fox News’ senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel earlier this month that he was recommending measles vaccines to promote “community immunity.”
Fox News Digital reached out to the FDA and HHS, but did not immediately receive responses, as the requests were sent outside business hours.
In August 2020, Marks reportedly confirmed to Reuters that he threatened to resign if the COVID-19 vaccine was released before it was proven to be safe and effective.
“You have to decide where your red line is, and that’s my red line,” Marks told Reuters in 2020. “I would feel obligated [to resign] because in doing so, I would indicate to the American public that there’s something wrong.”
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