(NewsNation) — Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, former director of the CDC’s Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said he resigned last week because there was “no way to maintain the integrity” of the agency.
“The Hippocratic Oath is first, do no harm. So, I couldn’t stay there and do harm. And you know, when I see the weaponization of public health … all that I could see in my path forward was to be compelled to do harm. I couldn’t stay there,” he said Friday on “Morning in America.”
Americans on ACA health plan could see premiums spike without congressional action
Daskalakis, along with at least three other agency leaders, resigned in protest after Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. removed Susan Monarez from her role as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Susan Monarez was ‘cut out’ of vaccine policy process: CDC official
Monarez’s firing came after the Food and Drug Administration restricted access to the COVID-19 vaccine, sparking an argument with Kennedy over her refusal to pull approvals for several immunizations.
While Kennedy has maintained Monarez was dishonorable and lied in an op-ed explaining her departure, Daskalakis said she was “cut out of the process” for determining vaccine policy.
Paul: Gay CDC official’s ‘lifestyle’ disqualified him from government
“She was told within no uncertain terms that she was not to be decision maker in vaccine policy, and that I would have to speak to the chief of staff of CDC instead of her, she got that directive from HHS,” Daskalakis said.
More than 1,000 current and former HHS employees signed a letter this week demanding Kennedy’s resignation and accusing him of “compromising the health of the nation.”
Demetre Daskalakis was ‘so excited to work with’ RFK Jr.
When asked whether Kennedy’s overhaul has gotten anything right, Daskalakis said the secretary “absolutely” has good ideas regarding public health.
“I mean, I was so excited to work with him,” he said. “When he came, he said, ‘I’m not not coming with preconceived notions.’ He wanted to promote a gold-standard science. He wanted radical transparency.”
Dr. Drew, nutrition scientist Jessica Knurick clash over vaccine mandates
But Daskalakis said Kennedy staffed the department with “people who were just mainly ideologic copies” of himself — and when Monarez left, he felt the “Game was up. No way to maintain the integrity.”
Republicans slam Daskalakis’ gay ‘lifestyle’ after resignation
Daskalakis has become a conservative target since his departure, with Kennedy on Thursday saying he and others who resigned deserved to be fired.
Earlier this week, Rand Paul said Daskalakis — an openly gay man — had “no business being in government” due to his “lifestyle.”
Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., has also criticized Daskalakis for his personal life, calling him a “BDSM Satan worshipper” on CNN over the weekend. In 2021, Daskalakis posed for the cover of Plus Magazine wearing a leather harness.
NewsNation partner The Hill contributed to this report.
