News
Article
U.S. CDC Elects mRNA Vaccine Critic to Lead Covid-19 Immunization Workgroup
Author(s):
The CDC appointed Retsef Levi, a vocal critic of mRNA Covid-19 vaccines, to lead its Covid-19 immunization workgroup, a panel tasked with reviewing vaccine safety and effectiveness, despite controversy surrounding his past calls for vaccine withdrawal.
Retsef Levi has been critical of mRNA vaccines and is a member of CDC’s key vaccine panel.
Stock.adobe.com
The U.S. CDC elected Retsef Levi, a member of its key vaccine panel, to lead the agency’s Covid-19 workgroup. Levi has criticized mRNA vaccines before, claiming they can cause series harm and even death, especially amongst younger children. This includes Moderna and Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccines, both of which are mRNA-based. Levi has gone as far to call for the vaccine’s immediate withdrawal.
What is the Covid-19 immunization workforce?
The CDC’s Covid-19 immunization workforce is designed to review and analyze data related to the safety, effectiveness, and immunology of Covid-19 vaccines authorized within the U.S. The workgroup will additionally handle discussions including risk-benefit cost analyses of existing and new founded FDA-authorized mRNA and other Covid-19 immunizations. The group additionally will focus on identifying critical gaps in established scientific and clinical knowledge on Covid-19 immunizations.
HHS spokesman Andrew Nixon touched on the topic when asked about Levi’s appointment to lead the Covid-19 immunization workgroup, saying, "While individual members may hold initial personal views, the task force’s work will be guided by data, transparency, open-mindedness, and open deliberation, not by any single opinion. We are confident this process will produce policy recommendations that put patients’ health and safety first."2
CDC’s change in recommendations
Back in May of this year, the CDC altered its recommendation for children, citing that the vaccine can be administered to healthy children aged from six months to 17 years, barring parental and physician approval. It however withdrew the recommendation for pregnant women citing the vaccine can lead to major disability.
Sources
- US CDC taps vaccine skeptic to lead COVID vaccine committee Reuters August 25, 2025 https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-cdc-taps-vaccine-skeptic-lead-covid-vaccine-committee-2025-08-25/
- Covid vaccine critic tapped to lead CDC advisory committee on shots Seeking Alpha August 25, 2025 https://seekingalpha.com/news/4488786-covid-vaccine-critic-tapped-lead-cdc-advisory-committee-shots
Newsletter
Lead with insight with the Pharmaceutical Executive newsletter, featuring strategic analysis, leadership trends, and market intelligence for biopharma decision-makers.
