Kerryn Carter

Kiwi in Canada, Mother, Anesthesiologist Pain physician, Lets make a difference together, She/her

[DrDemetre @dr_demetre]

My resignation letter from CDC.

Dear Dr. Houry,

I am writing to formally resign from my position as Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), effective August 28, 2025, close of business.   I am happy to stay on for two weeks to provide transition, if requested.

This decision has not come easily, as I deeply value the work that the CDC does in safeguarding public health and am proud of my contributions to that critical mission. However, after much contemplation and reflection on recent developments and perspectives brought to light by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., I find that the views he and his staff have shared challenge my ability to continue in my current role at the agency and in the service of the health of the American people. Enough is enough.

While I hold immense respect for the institution and my colleagues, I believe that it is imperative to align my professional responsibilities to my system of ethics and my understanding of the science of infectious disease, immunology, and my promise to serve the American people.  This step is necessary to ensure that I can contribute effectively in a capacity that allows me to remain true to my principles.

I am unable to serve in an environment that treats CDC as a tool to generate policies and materials that do not reflect scientific reality and are designed to hurt rather than to improve the public’s health.  The recent change in the adult and children’s immunization schedule threaten the lives of the youngest Americans and pregnant people.   The data analyses that supported this decision have never been shared with CDC despite my respectful requests to HHS and other leadership.  This lack of meaningful engagement was further compounded by a “frequently asked questions” document written to support the Secretary’s directive that was circulated by HHS without input from CDC subject matter experts and that cited studies that did not support the conclusions that were attributed to these authors.  Having worked in local and national public health for years, I have never experienced such radical non-transparency, nor have I seen such unskilled manipulation of data to achieve a political end rather than the good of the American people.

It is untenable to serve in an organization that is not afforded the opportunity to discuss decisions of scientific and public health importance released under the moniker of CDC.  The lack of communication by HHS and other CDC political leadership that culminates in social media posts announcing major policy changes without prior notice demonstrate a disregard of normal communication channels and common sense.  Having to retrofit analyses and policy actions to match inadequately thought-out announcements in poorly scripted videos or page long X posts should not be how organizations responsible for the health of people should function.  Some examples include the announcement of the change in the COVID-19 recommendations for children and pregnant people, the firing of scientists from ACIP by X post and an op-ed rather than direct communication with these valuable experts, the announcement of new ACIP members by X before onboarding and vetting have completed, and the release of term of reference for an ACIP workgroup that ignored all feedback from career staff at CDC.

The recent term of reference for the COVID vaccine work group created by this ACIP puts people of dubious intent and more dubious scientific rigor in charge of recommending vaccine policy to a director hamstrung and sidelined by an authoritarian leader.   Their desire to please a political base will result in death and disability of vulnerable children and adults.  Their base should be the people they serve not a political voting bloc.

I have always been first to challenge scientific and public health dogma in my career and was excited by the opportunity to do so again.  I was optimistic that there would be an opportunity to brief the Secretary about key topics such as measles, avian influenza, and the highly coordinated approach to the respiratory virus season.  Such briefings would allow exchange of ideas and a shared path to support the vision of “Making America Healthy Again.”  We are seven months into the new administration, and no CDC subject matter expert from my Center has ever briefed the Secretary.  I am not sure who the Secretary is listening to, but it is quite certainly not to us.  Unvetted and conflicted outside organizations seem to be the sources HHS use over the gold standard science of CDC and other reputable sources.  At a hearing, Secretary Kennedy said that Americans should not take medical advice from him.  To the contrary, an appropriately briefed and inquisitive Secretary should be a source of health information for the people he serves. As it stands now, I must agree with him, that he should not be considered a source of accurate information.

The intentional eroding of trust in low-risk vaccines favoring natural infection and unproven remedies will bring us to a pre-vaccine era where only the strong will survive and many if not all will suffer.  I believe in nutrition and exercise.  I believe in making our food supply healthier, and I also believe in using vaccines to prevent death and disability.  Eugenics plays prominently in the rhetoric being generated and is derivative of a legacy that good medicine and science should continue to shun.

The recent shooting at CDC is not why I am resigning.  My grandfather, who I am named after, stood up to fascist forces in Greece and lost his life doing so.  I am resigning to make him and his legacy proud.   I am resigning because of the cowardice of a leader that cannot admit that HIS and his minions’ words over decades created an environment where violence like this can occur.  I reject his and his colleagues’ thoughts and prayers, and advise they direct those to people that they have not actively harmed.

For decades, I have been a trusted voice for the LGBTQ community when it comes to critical health topics.  I must also cite the recklessness of the administration in their efforts to erase transgender populations, cease critical domestic and international HIV programming, and terminate key research to support equity as part of my decision.

Public health is not merely about the health of the individual, but it is about the health of the community, the nation, the world. The nation’s health security is at risk and is in the hands of people focusing on ideological self-interest.

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the opportunities for growth, learning, and collaboration that I have been afforded during my time at the CDC. It has been a privilege to work alongside such dedicated professionals who are committed to improving the health and well-being of communities across the nation even when under attack from within both physically and psychologically.

Thank you once again for the support and guidance I have received from you and previous CDC leadership throughout my tenure. I wish the CDC continued success in its vital mission and that HHS reverse its dangerous course to dismantle public health as a practice and as an institution.  If they continue the current path, they risk our personal well-being and the security of the United States.

Sincerely,

Demetre C. Daskalakis MD MPH (he/his/him)

[Kerryn Carter @CarterKerryn]

@CTVCalgary Send to the Ministry for Red tape reduction

[Kerryn Carter @CarterKerryn]

@CalgaryPolice Thanks

[Timothy Caulfield @CaulfieldTim]

Dear Media,

STOP calling RFK Jr a vaccine "skeptic".

He is an antivaxx liar. An anti-science fearmonger. An exploitive brand builder.

He has NOTHING to do with thoughtful skepticism. Don't normalize false balance, middle ground fallacies, or his harmful BS.

[Terry Klassen @tpklassen]

Pediatric Chairs of Canada believe that Vaccines cause adults.

[Dr. Lynora Saxinger MD FRCPC Infectious Diseases @AntibioticDoc]

Measles: forgetting history and being doomed to repeat it?

Measles is a highly contagious, whole-body viral infection.
Before immunization (1970s) it killed at least 2.6 million/yr, and left many kids with lifelong disabilities (deafness, developmental delay)

[Kerryn Carter @CarterKerryn]

@TitoDaodu @ihspr_isps_cihr @CAMHnews @MaryEBrindle @kharasauro @KanninOsei @StelfoxTom @Governordayo Congratulations 🥳

[Kerryn Carter @CarterKerryn]

@MaryEBrindle @albertateachers @pbnjanana @MaryEBrindle fund public education

[Timothy Caulfield @CaulfieldTim]

Alberta's COVID-19 death toll more than 4 times higher than flu over past year https://t.co/QPp0GBCrE1

"A year's worth of respiratory virus data for Alberta reveals, once again, COVID-19 is far deadlier than the flu."

"...reversing the slumping vaccination rates will be essential for the next respiratory virus season."

cc @CBCNews @CBCEdmonton w @drslmd

[Timothy Caulfield @CaulfieldTim]

See Open Letter in Support of Public Health – signed by over 125 interdisciplinary experts from across Alberta – in response to the UCP "Injection of Truth" anti-vaccine event.

The letter, which was organized by the Edmonton Zone Medical Staff Association (@EZMSA2), notes:

"Childhood vaccination has provided the single greatest contribution to improved infant survival over the past 50 years. Giving credence to conspiracy and misinformation, and ignoring scientific evidence, actively jeopardizes the health of our children while vaccine-preventable diseases are on the rise."

"Setting public health policy by recruiting discredited and unlicensed doctors and spokespersons who cater to an anti-science agenda is dangerous."

Access letter here: https://t.co/dG6iTFEMus cc @picardonhealth @DrJenGunter @UbakaOgbogu @Albertadoctors @ABFamDocs @ImmunizedotCa @KristopherWells #VaccinesWork

[Kerryn Carter @CarterKerryn]

@ChildKindIntl @yycpainmd @LauraRaynerCNS we appreciate you Laura!

[ChildKind @ChildKindIntl]

The COVID-19 pandemic saw the largest backslide in childhood immunization in 30 years, leading to outbreaks & deaths. During #WorldImmunizationWeek we advocate for immunization for all. Help build a world where fewer children die of preventable illnesses by supporting vaccines.

[Helen Clark @HelenClarkNZ]

What on earth? What would any state roll back law banning female genital mutilation? Yet this is what is proposed in The #Gambia 🇬🇲. #FGM is torture & and as such an extreme violation of the rights of #girls & #women. #EndFGM 🛑 @UNFPA @UNICEFGambia
https://t.co/Vr904Fxhqr.

[Kerryn Carter @CarterKerryn]

@Jopo_dr https://t.co/0hZysUGEy8

[Alberta Medical Association (AMA) @Albertadoctors]

Statement on transgender care from the Alberta Psychiatric Association (inclusive of AMA Sections of General Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry)

[Dr. Fiona Mattatall 🪩🇨🇦 @FionaMattatall]

Actual experts Smith should have consulted 👇
#abhealth #ableg

[Darren Markland @drdagly]

Then division of healthcare administration is an expensive duplication of services. Amalgamation of these services would provide considerable efficiency and cost savings while enhancing reproductive healthcare.

[Francois Bernier @Genedoc35]

One of my saddest weeks in AB - please leave medical care of transgender youth to clinical experts! Canada ranks 30th of 38th in child health and wellness outcomes! Focus on the real issues facing youth- access to health & mental health care, poverty, racism.. @ABDanielleSmith

[Jean Fisch @Jean__Fisch]

NZE is the only country in the world with high vax, good death data and vax happening before and not in parallel with covid

It saw no excess in the<60, which is not attributable to covid

This de facto kills any claim of high vax deaths made elsewhere, let me explain⤵️

[Dr. Fiona Mattatall 🪩🇨🇦 @FionaMattatall]

A good reminder for pregnant patients to get their Tdap booster between 27 and 32 weeks - best way to protect newborns from pertussis

#pregnancy #abhealth