LONDON — The incoming Trump administration and its embrace of anti-vaccine figures will give scientists and public health officials a chance to make the case for the value of vaccinations, the top U.S. vaccine regulator said Thursday as he made a staunch defense of life. save vaccines.
But if public health fails, the US could face serious consequences, warned Peter Marks of the Food and Drug Administration.
“If that doesn’t work, and everything goes in the opposite direction, just as your children learn natural consequences – if you put your hand on a hot oven you will get burned, and so on, things like that – the American The public will see the natural learning the consequences of what happens if vaccination rates drop too far, because we’re going to see measles, polio and things that we should never see in a well-developed country come back,” said Marks, who spoke virtually. at the Jefferies London Healthcare Conference.
Marks, head of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, noted that scientists must make it clear that they have the facts on their side. No, the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine does not cause autism. But as measles vaccination declines, more children will die from measles.
“I have to believe that some degree of moderation will prevail,” Marks said in a call with two Jefferies analysts. “I have no doubt that we will have a very robust dialogue about the benefits and risks of vaccines. I think there will probably be a very robust dialogue around Covid-19 vaccines, possibly on pediatric vaccines.”
But speaking as if to make his vision of the future a reality, Marks said, “My hope is that through open dialogue we will get to the right place.”
Marks has been advocating for the safety and efficacy of approved vaccines since the election. But his comments at the Jefferies conference came after President-elect Trump last week blasted vaccine critic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had chosen to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, with control of the FDA. RFK Jr. has fanned the flames of anti-vaccine rhetoric by falsely claiming that immunizations can cause autism, even though he has said since the election that he has no intention of taking available vaccines away from people.
Marks did not specifically mention Kennedy in his responses to analysts’ questions about the impact of the Trump administration and its officials on the FDA. Marks also noted that an announcement of Trump’s choice for FDA commissioner is expected soon.
RFK Jr. has accused the FDA of waging a “war on public health,” claiming the agency has been corrupted by pharmaceutical companies, as well as the food and chemical industries. The selection of RFK Jr. to lead HHS has led to fears that he could try to fire many of the agency’s experts, or that the second Trump administration will lead to more people leaving the agency on their own and discouraging people from joining to join the FDA.
Marks reiterated that he wants to keep his job.
“I’ll be around as long as I’m supposed to be welcome to stay around,” he said with a chuckle.
RFK Jr. rose to prominence during the pandemic, as many Americans became disillusioned with government health agencies and felt doubtful about the efficacy and safety of Covid-19 vaccines. Public health officials fear any lingering questions about Covid shots could lead to more hesitancy around other vaccines.
Marks said health agencies could have performed better during the pandemic, which could have boosted confidence in Covid vaccines. For example, he said when health officials labeled Covid shots as safe, it still meant serious side effects could occur in rare cases. But some in the audience felt betrayed by it.
“The fact is that there is a lot of vaccine skepticism in the United States,” Marks said. “Some of it may be justified: we haven’t communicated things perfectly during the Covid-19 pandemic.”
But Marks added: “Much of it is unfounded and is the result of conspiracy theories, misinformation and people calling information disinformation. It really is a big mess.” He said scientists and health officials should use the facts behind vaccines to confront that skepticism.
Later in the conversation, Marks returned to the term “misinformation.”
“I hate using the word ‘disinformation’ because it has become a trash term for lies,” he said.