US FDA Officials Alarmed Over Controversial New Chief Amid Fears of Science-Focused Office Being Politicized.
The Trump administration's elevation of a vaccine skeptic to head the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research has sent shockwaves among senior agency officials, who warn that it could irreparably damage the agency's reputation as a reliable guardian of America's drug supply.
Acting Director Dr. Tracy Beth Høeg, who previously expressed doubts about COVID-19 vaccines due to rare side effects like myocarditis, is now overseeing an office responsible for ensuring all over-the-counter and prescription drugs are safe and effective.
"I think that has contributed to a loss of trust when people are coerced to take vaccines," Dr. Høeg said in a recent advisory meeting, linking declining public trust in the US healthcare system during the pandemic to vaccine mandates and continued masking.
Her appointment has raised concerns among top officials at the FDA, who fear that she will politicize a science-focused office responsible for America's drug development pipeline. "The agency doesn't want to be seen as a partisan tool," one official said.
Industry insiders warn that companies might view the FDA less favorably and develop new products overseas if they perceive its regulatory environment as unstable.
Dr. Høeg, a sports medicine physician and epidemiologist, has been a vocal advocate for revising childhood vaccination schedules and questioning the effectiveness of certain vaccines. Her views have sparked intense debate among medical experts, with some hailing her commitment to "rigorous science" while others criticize her approach as reckless and uninformed.
The appointment has also reignited concerns about vaccine mandates and trust in the US healthcare system, which were already eroding due to the pandemic. Experts say that Dr. Høeg's views on these issues could further exacerbate public distrust in the agency and its policies.
As a representative on a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advisory panel handpicked by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Dr. Høeg has been at the forefront of efforts to revise decades-old guidance on childhood vaccinations.
The American Academy of Pediatrics says that the US vaccine schedule is based on robust evidence and is largely similar across developed countries, with some variance due to factors like disease threats, demographics, and healthcare systems.
Despite her views being at odds with medical consensus, Dr. Høeg acknowledged the effectiveness of certain vaccines in recent comments about a measles outbreak, stating that even unvaccinated children are susceptible to the disease.
In a statement announcing her appointment, Commissioner Marty Makary described her as "the right scientist" for the job, highlighting her commitment to providing high-quality evidence and advancing scientific rigor.
The Trump administration's elevation of a vaccine skeptic to head the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research has sent shockwaves among senior agency officials, who warn that it could irreparably damage the agency's reputation as a reliable guardian of America's drug supply.
Acting Director Dr. Tracy Beth Høeg, who previously expressed doubts about COVID-19 vaccines due to rare side effects like myocarditis, is now overseeing an office responsible for ensuring all over-the-counter and prescription drugs are safe and effective.
"I think that has contributed to a loss of trust when people are coerced to take vaccines," Dr. Høeg said in a recent advisory meeting, linking declining public trust in the US healthcare system during the pandemic to vaccine mandates and continued masking.
Her appointment has raised concerns among top officials at the FDA, who fear that she will politicize a science-focused office responsible for America's drug development pipeline. "The agency doesn't want to be seen as a partisan tool," one official said.
Industry insiders warn that companies might view the FDA less favorably and develop new products overseas if they perceive its regulatory environment as unstable.
Dr. Høeg, a sports medicine physician and epidemiologist, has been a vocal advocate for revising childhood vaccination schedules and questioning the effectiveness of certain vaccines. Her views have sparked intense debate among medical experts, with some hailing her commitment to "rigorous science" while others criticize her approach as reckless and uninformed.
The appointment has also reignited concerns about vaccine mandates and trust in the US healthcare system, which were already eroding due to the pandemic. Experts say that Dr. Høeg's views on these issues could further exacerbate public distrust in the agency and its policies.
As a representative on a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advisory panel handpicked by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Dr. Høeg has been at the forefront of efforts to revise decades-old guidance on childhood vaccinations.
The American Academy of Pediatrics says that the US vaccine schedule is based on robust evidence and is largely similar across developed countries, with some variance due to factors like disease threats, demographics, and healthcare systems.
Despite her views being at odds with medical consensus, Dr. Høeg acknowledged the effectiveness of certain vaccines in recent comments about a measles outbreak, stating that even unvaccinated children are susceptible to the disease.
In a statement announcing her appointment, Commissioner Marty Makary described her as "the right scientist" for the job, highlighting her commitment to providing high-quality evidence and advancing scientific rigor.
This is super worrying, especially with someone who's had vaccine doubts taking over an office that's all about keeping us safe on medications 
. It feels like the trust we have in the FDA might be seriously damaged 
. I hope Dr Høeg can balance her passion for 'rigorous science' with being a team player, but it's hard to imagine how she can represent the US healthcare system when there are so many experts who disagree with her views 
. The industry is already on edge about this change, and I don't think it's just companies that will be affected - regular people might start questioning vaccine efficacy too, which could have serious consequences 
.
Dr. Høeg's views on vaccines are literally at odds with everything we know 
i mean i get that she wants to spark debate but come on, science is science not politics 
how can we trust her to regulate our meds when she's already questioning the effectiveness of certain vaccines? 
this could be a disaster for the FDA and public health as a whole 
. I mean, she's been vocal about revising childhood vaccination schedules and questioning vaccine effectiveness... that's like, a no-go from the medical community 
.
especially when they're already anxious about vaccine mandates and trust in healthcare. it's like we're creating a system where people can just make up their own science rules 
As an FDA expert warned, this is like a ticking time bomb 
for the agency's reputation and our public health 
Companies might start to develop products overseas if they think we're all over the place 
Industry insiders are already speaking out about this 
Meanwhile, I'm just worried about my own vaccination schedule 
.
? like isn't that kinda a big deal for someone in charge of making sure meds are safe? 
and now everyone's worried she's gonna mess up the whole system 
I mean, companies aren't going to take kindly to a perceived unstable regulatory environment and develop new products overseas instead. That's just good business sense. But at the same time, some folks are saying she's being too cautious or even reckless with her approach... 
IT'S LIKE PUTTING A CHICKEN IN CHARGE OF THE NUTRYTION DEPARTMENT! 
THE SCIENCE IS CLEAR: VACCINES SAVE LIVES, NOT HARM THEM! 
the CDC and other health orgs have been saying this stuff for years and she's just like "oh nope" 
it's a big deal 