Top FDA Vaccine Official Vinay Prasad Resigns After Loomer Pressure

Dr. Vinay Prasad, the FDA’s chief medical and scientific officer and director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, resigned less than three months into his tenure amid a public campaign led by right-wing activist Laura Loomer. Prasad, appointed during President Donald Trump’s administration in May, faced criticism for his decisions to restrict the use of the COVID-19 vaccine and for halting shipments of a gene therapy drug, Elevidys, after several deaths linked to its use. Loomer accused him of undermining the administration’s deregulatory agenda due to his past progressive political support and criticisms of Trump-era policies. Despite private defense from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Prasad decided to step down to avoid being a distraction and return to California to spend more time with his family. His departure highlights tensions within the FDA involving vaccine approval policies, gene therapy oversight, and political pressures influencing regulatory decisions. The agency acknowledged his contributions to important reforms during his brief service.