Dr. Peter Marks, a leading vaccine expert at the FDA, abruptly resigned on Friday. He accused Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of spreading misinformation about vaccines. In his resignation letter, he strongly criticized Kennedy’s stance, calling it "irresponsible" and a threat to public health.

Moreover, he wrote, "It has become clear that truth and transparency are not desired by the secretary, but rather he wishes subservient confirmation of his misinformation and lies." He addressed the letter to Sara Brenner, the FDA’s acting commissioner.

Marks Resigned Under Pressure

According to a source from the Health and Human Services (HHS), Marks was given an ultimatum—resign or be fired. Notably, his resignation came just hours after Kennedy claimed in West Virginia that Covid did not kill healthy individuals. However, this statement contradicted scientific studies, which indicate that 30% of early Covid victims had no underlying conditions.

Furthermore, Kennedy downplayed vaccines during a measles outbreak in Texas, instead emphasizing the benefits of vitamin A. In addition, he announced plans to create a new office to study vaccine injuries.

Marks Warns Against Vaccine Misinformation

In his resignation letter, Marks condemned Kennedy’s statements. He pointed out that measles killed over 100,000 unvaccinated children in Africa and Asia last year. Additionally, he emphasized that he had attempted to address Kennedy’s concerns about vaccine safety, but Kennedy continued to spread misleading information.

He warned, "Undermining confidence in well-established vaccines that have met the high standards for quality, safety, and effectiveness at the FDA is irresponsible, detrimental to public health, and a clear danger to our nation’s health, safety, and security."

Moreover, Marks expressed concerns about the future, saying, "My hope is that the unprecedented assault on scientific truth will end so that Americans can fully benefit from medical advancements."

HHS Responds to Resignation

Shortly after the resignation, an HHS spokesperson released a statement. The response was firm: "If Peter Marks does not support restoring science to its golden standard and promoting radical transparency, then he has no place at the FDA under Secretary Kennedy."

Marks Led FDA’s Vaccine Efforts During Covid-19

Throughout his career, Marks played a crucial role in the FDA’s vaccine program. Most importantly, he oversaw emergency vaccine approvals during the Covid-19 pandemic. Additionally, he was a key figure in Operation Warp Speed, the Trump administration’s vaccine initiative.

Meanwhile, Kennedy reaffirmed his plan to create a vaccine injury agency under the CDC. He insisted that the initiative was a top priority and would help bring "gold-standard science" to the federal government.