“The last straw”—RFK Jr.’s anti-vaccine ally angrily quits CDC panel after spat

One of the federal vaccine advisors hand-selected by anti-vaccine Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has angrily resigned from his position, complaining of “drama” amid a spat with a spokesperson. Robert Malone—a former researcher turned outspoken anti-vaccine activist and conspiracy theorist—confirmed he was stepping down Tuesday afternoon to CQ Roll Call, which first reported the news.

He told the outlet that his decision to quit came after a “miscommunication” about the fate of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Kennedy had populated ACIP with anti-vaccine allies including Malone, who served as vice chair, after summarily firing all 17 experts on the panel last June. Last week, a federal judge temporarily blocked Kennedy’s ACIP appointments, including Malone. He also stayed the changes that its members had made to federal vaccine guidance, as well as the dramatic overhaul of the childhood vaccine schedule Kennedy made without them. The judge ruled all the moves were likely illegal.

On Thursday, Malone claimed on social media that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) had disbanded ACIP and planned to completely reconstitute it (again), without appealing the judge’s ruling or defending Kennedy’s ACIP picks from the judge’s claims that they were unqualified. But soon after, Malone retracted his claim, saying it was a miscommunication and that disbanding ACIP was merely one of the “options being considered.”

Drama

HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon then released a statement to media pointing to Malone’s retraction and adding “Unless officially announced by us, any assertions about what we are doing next is baseless speculation.”

Malone told Roll Call today that Nixon’s response was what led to his departure. “After Andrew trashing me with the press, I am done with the CDC and ACIP,” Malone said in a text message Tuesday morning. “That was the last straw.”

“Suffice to say I do not like drama, and have better things to do,” he added.

HHS Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs Rich Danker and former ACIP Chair Martin Kulldorff, who now serves as the HHS chief science officer, then contacted Roll Call on Tuesday to provide a statement confirming Malone’s departure and defending Nixon. “In light of the court ruling and the enormous amount of volunteer time provided by ACIP members to enhance public health, I can sympathize with [Malone’s] decision to step away,” Kulldorf reportedly said. “As for Andrew Nixon, I found him to be professional and honest in all his work supporting ACIP.” Kulldorff and Danker declined further comment.

Malone, in contrast, wasn’t done speaking. In further comments to the New York Times, he said his departure “was not an impulsive decision.”

“Hundreds of hours of uncompensated labor, incredible hate from many quarters, hostile press, internal bickering, weaponized leaking, sabotage—I have better things to do,” he said.

Joseph Hibbeln, another ACIP member selected by Kennedy who often disagreed with Malone, told the Times that Malone’s stated wish to avoid drama “contrasts with his prior dramatic and confusing statements.”

“It is good that Dr. Malone wishes now to decrease drama regarding vaccines,” Hibbeln said.