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 criticized Covid-19 vaccines, labeling them as 'dangerous.' His views align with those of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., particularly regarding vaccination practices and certain medications. Dr. Abraham has advocated against the use of Tylenol during pregnancy due to alleged links to autism and has called for the cessation of routine hepatitis B immunization at birth. He has also proposed the removal of aluminum salts from vaccines, which are included to enhance immune responses.

Dr. Abraham's appointment comes at a time when the CDC lacks a permanent director, following the removal of Susan Monarez earlier this year. Jim O’Neill, the HHS deputy secretary, is currently acting as the CDC director, making Abraham effectively the highest-ranking official at the agency.

His appointment has sparked concerns about vaccine skepticism within the CDC, especially under the leadership of 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 its potential implications for public health, particularly as Louisiana faces its worst whooping cough outbreak in three decades, a situation worsened by the cancellation of the state's mass vaccination program.

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