Top CDC Official for COVID Data Steps Down Before Vaccine Meeting: Robert F Kennedy Jr.

On Monday, the scientist leading the CDC team responsible for collecting data on Covid and RSV hospitalizations stepped down. Dr. Fiona Havers informed her colleagues via email that she no longer trusted the objectivity and scientific rigor of the data for vaccine policy decisions, as reported by Reuters. This departure occurs prior to a vaccine panel meeting, which was established by Robert Kennedy Jr. after he dismissed all 17 members of the CDC’s independent vaccine advisory panel, and also scrapped suggestions for Covid vaccinations for healthy kids and pregnant women. Havers, who was in charge of the Resp-Net hospitalization surveillance team, did not reply to requests for comments. This succession of events follows Kennedy’s decision to abruptly remove all members of the CDC’s independent vaccine advisory panel and replace them with eight of his choosing, including individuals with histories of opposing Covid shots or vaccines. Havers pointed out in her email that her team’s Covid and RSV data had been included in over 20 peer-reviewed studies and 15 CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports. The newly formed vaccine advisory committee, headed by Kennedy, is slated to convene between June 25 and 27 to deliberate on the use of Covid-19 boosters and other vaccinations for the public. A spokesperson for Health and Human Services assured Reuters of the agency’s dedication to “gold standard science”, affirming that vaccine policy will be guided by objective data, clear analysis, and evidence.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/16/cdc-official-covid-data-resigbns