Introduction to the Resignation of Dr. Peter Marks
Dr. Peter Marks, the Food and Drug Administration’s top vaccine regulator, has resigned, an official at the Department of Health and Human Services said Friday.
“If Peter Marks does not want to get behind restoring science to its golden standard and promoting radical transparency, then he has no place at FDA under the strong leadership of Secretary Kennedy,” a spokesperson at HHS said.
Circumstances of the Resignation
A person familiar with the matter told NBC News that Marks was forced out of his position.
Dr. Peter Marks, then-director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, testifies on Capitol Hill, on May 11, 2021.Jim Lo Scalzo / Pool via AP file
Reasons Behind the Resignation
In a resignation letter to acting FDA Commissioner Sara Brenner, Marks wrote that undermining confidence in vaccines is “irresponsible, detrimental to public health, and a clear danger to our nation’s health, safety, and security.” He said that he had been willing to work with Kennedy to address any concerns about vaccine safety and transparency.
“However, 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 wrote.
Background of Dr. Peter Marks
Marks did not respond to a request for comment. Marks has led the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, or CBER, since 2016. The division is responsible for assuring the safety and effectiveness of a number of medical products, including vaccines.
Role in the Covid Pandemic
Marks helped lead the nation through the Covid pandemic, playing a key role in authorizing the first Covid vaccines in late 2020, from first from Pfizer-BioNTech and then shortly after, Moderna. He helped launch Operation Warp Speed, the first Trump administration’s private-public partnership to quickly develop the vaccines.
Criticism from Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Capitol Hill on Jan. 29.Andrew Caballero-Reynolds / AFP via Getty Images file
Kennedy, an anti-vaccine activist, has been critical of the Covid vaccines, and filed a citizens petition in 2021 requesting that the FDA revoke the authorization of the vaccines. That same year, he called described the Covid vaccine as the “deadliest vaccine ever made.”
Undermining Confidence in Vaccines
Kennedy has also worked to undermine confidence in the measles vaccine amid the largest outbreak the United States has seen since 2019. While he’s said vaccines protect children from the measles, he’s also said the decision to vaccinate is a “personal” one. In a recent interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News, Kennedy said the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine “does cause deaths every year.” There have been no deaths linked to the MMR vaccine in healthy people, according to the Infectious Disease Society of America. The vaccine is not recommending for immunocompromised people.
Conclusion
The resignation of Dr. Peter Marks highlights the challenges faced by scientists and regulators in promoting vaccine confidence and addressing misinformation. As Marks noted in his resignation letter, undermining confidence in vaccines is “irresponsible, detrimental to public health, and a clear danger to our nation’s health, safety, and security.” The ongoing debates and controversies surrounding vaccines underscore the need for evidence-based information and transparent communication to ensure public trust in vaccine safety and effectiveness.
FAQs
Q: Who is Dr. Peter Marks?
A: Dr. Peter Marks is the former director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, responsible for assuring the safety and effectiveness of medical products, including vaccines.
Q: Why did Dr. Marks resign?
A: Dr. Marks resigned due to differences with Secretary Kennedy over vaccine safety and transparency, citing the undermining of confidence in vaccines as “irresponsible” and “detrimental to public health.”
Q: What is the role of the FDA in vaccine regulation?
A: The FDA is responsible for ensuring the safety and effectiveness of vaccines, including authorizing their use and monitoring their safety post-authorization.
Q: What are the concerns surrounding vaccine confidence?
A: Concerns include misinformation and disinformation about vaccine safety and effectiveness, which can lead to decreased vaccine uptake and outbreaks of preventable diseases.
