The Food and Drug Administration has appointed Vinay Prasad, known for his critical stance on federal Covid-19 policies and a proponent of more rigorous approval processes, to head its vaccine division.
He takes over from Peter Marks, who had been with the Center for Biological Assessment and Research until his resignation in March, reportedly due to disagreements with Health and Human Services Director Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
“Dr. Prasad offers the scientific rigor, independence, and transparency that CBER requires,” was noted in a post on social media on Tuesday.
Previously, Prasad was a professor of epidemiology at the University of California, San Francisco. He earned his medical degree from the University of Chicago and holds a Master’s in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University. He has a background as an oncologist and hematologist.
His joining Kennedy’s HHS adds to a lineup of medical figures who have opposed Covid-19 measures.
During the pandemic, Prasad gained visibility through social media, where he was outspoken against mask mandates and vaccine policies, as well as the federal decisions to expedite vaccine booster availability for Pfizer and Moderna.
He collaborated with McCurry on a publication critiquing booster recommendations for younger populations. Currently, McCurry’s special assistant, Tracy Beth Hoag, a physician specializing in sports medicine, co-authored this paper.
Last year, Prasad stated that the FDA’s approval of boosters without randomized clinical data was indicative of them being “either incompetent or corrupt.”
He has also voiced strong criticism of the pharmaceutical industry, advocating for tougher, evidence-based standards for drug approvals.
In a post following Marks’s departure in March, Prasad referred to him as “one of the most dangerous pro-pharma regulators of the 21st century,” alleging that Marks contributed to what he called “the biggest anti-vax action of the 21st century.” This was in the context of potential vaccine mandates under Biden.
Prasad’s appointment arrives during a period of significant change, with some critics expressing concern that it may lead to delays in the approval of new Covid vaccines due to the anticipated requirement for more clinical trials.
