Dr. Marty Makary, the newly appointed Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has voiced skepticism about past federal recommendations regarding COVID-19 vaccines. In a Sunday interview, Makary repeatedly emphasized that vaccine decisions should be left to individual patients in consultation with their physicians.
When pressed by host Margaret Brennan to clarify the FDA’s position, especially after recent contradictory statements from government officials, Makary declined to issue specific guidance. Instead, he maintained, “We believe the recommendation should be with a patient and their doctor,” deflecting questions about the absence of unified federal direction. His comments came in response to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s recent announcement that COVID-19 vaccines were no longer being recommended for healthy children and pregnant women. That announcement was only partly offset by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which issued follow-up guidance that left much room for interpretation.
Concerns Over Data Integrity and Advisory Committees
Makary raised multiple concerns about the reliability of existing data used to justify vaccine recommendations. He criticized the CDC’s methodology, claiming that its COVID-19 Vaccines statistics are compromised by widespread false positives stemming from routine hospital testing. “We know the CDC data is contaminated with a lot of false positives from incidental positive COVID tests,” he stated, suggesting that these inaccuracies undermine public confidence.
Further, Makary openly questioned the integrity of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, referring to it as a “kangaroo court” that merely rubber-stamps vaccine approvals without sufficient scrutiny. He called for more rigorous, controlled clinical studies to provide definitive evidence regarding vaccine safety and effectiveness, especially for vulnerable groups such as pregnant women and children.
When asked what was lacking in current vaccine data and when more conclusive studies might be available, Makary avoided giving a clear timeline. Instead, he doubled down on his position that, in the absence of reliable federal guidance, medical professionals should use their own clinical judgment.
A Shift in Tone from Federal Leadership
Makary’s appearance reflects a noticeable shift in how federal health leaders are approaching COVID-19 Vaccines guidance. Nominated by former President Donald Trump, Makary was known during his time at Johns Hopkins as a vocal critic of the Biden administration’s handling of the pandemic. Trump justified the nomination by asserting that the FDA had “lost the trust of Americans,” and said Makary would “course-correct” the agency.
During the interview, Makary remained consistent in his recommendation that pregnant women and others with vaccine concerns consult directly with their physicians. When Brennan asked, “When do they get the data you’re promising?” Makary replied, “In the absence of data, they should talk to their doctor.”
The exchange underscores growing tension between public health institutions and federal agencies, with the FDA’s top official now placing the burden of decision-making squarely on individual medical providers, signaling a notable pivot from centralized public health directives to personalized healthcare strategies.
