Dr. Ralph Abraham has been appointed as the principal deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), effective November 23, 2025. This appointment was not publicly announced by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and many CDC employees reportedly learned of it only through the agency's internal database. An HHS spokesperson confirmed Dr. Abraham's new role but did not provide additional comments.

Previously serving as Louisiana's surgeon general, Dr. Abraham has publicly expressed skepticism about vaccinations, particularly labeling Covid-19 vaccines as 'dangerous.' His views align with those of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., especially regarding certain medications and vaccination practices. Dr. Abraham has advocated against the use of Tylenol during pregnancy due to alleged links to autism and has supported halting routine hepatitis B immunization at birth. He has also called for the removal of aluminum salts from vaccines, which are used to enhance immune responses.

Before entering politics, Dr. Abraham practiced as both a physician and a veterinarian. He was elected to Congress in 2014, serving until his retirement in 2020. During the Covid-19 pandemic, he promoted the use of hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin, both of which have been shown to be ineffective against the virus. His appointment raises critical questions about the future direction of public health policy at the CDC, particularly in light of ongoing debates surrounding vaccine safety and efficacy.

Currently, the CDC lacks a permanent director following the removal of Susan Monarez earlier this year, with Jim O’Neill, the HHS deputy secretary, acting as the CDC director. This places Dr. Abraham in a position as one of the highest-ranking officials at the agency.

Abraham's appointment comes amid heightened concerns about vaccine skepticism within the CDC, particularly under HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has previously reduced funding for vaccine research and removed pro-vaccine members from the CDC's advisory board. This shift has alarmed health experts regarding potential implications for public health, especially as Louisiana faces its worst whooping cough outbreak in three decades, a situation worsened by the cancellation of the state's mass vaccination program.

Louisiana U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, a physician and pro-vaccination advocate, has voiced concerns that undermining the established scientific consensus on vaccine safety poses a significant risk to public health. Despite this, Cassidy supported Kennedy's confirmation as HHS secretary, reflecting the complex dynamics surrounding vaccine policy in the current administration.