On Friday, Johns Hopkins University pancreatic surgeon Dr. Marty Makary, who has made contentious statements on COVID, was named by President-elect Donald Trump to be the Food and Drug Administration’s commissioner.
According to the university’s website, Makary is the head of Johns Hopkins’ Islet Transplant Surgery department. A member of the National Academy of Medicine, a division of the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, he also held a senior position at the World Health Organization Patient Safety Program. In addition, he frequently appears on Fox News and has been a prominent consultant to the conservative health care think group Paragon Health Institute.
“Americans no longer trust the FDA, and the agency has forgotten its main regulatory objective. Trump stated on Truth Social that the Agency needs Dr. Marty Makary, a highly regarded surgical oncologist and health policy expert from Johns Hopkins, to reorient and change the Agency’s direction.
“He will work under the leadership of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to, among other things, properly evaluate harmful chemicals poisoning our Nation’s food supply and drugs and biologics being given to our Nation’s youth, so that we can finally address the Childhood Chronic Disease Epidemic,” Trump stated.
The Senate must confirm the post. In his capacity as FDA commissioner, Makary would be in charge of policing and monitoring pharmaceuticals, foods, medical equipment, and other goods including tobacco and cosmetics.
Makary has already made a number of contentious remarks, mostly about the epidemic. During the epidemic, he said that the “greatest perpetrator” of false information was the federal government.
He ignored the risk of infections and argued that spontaneous immunity was “at least” as good as or even better than immunity derived from vaccinations. Additionally, he said that by April 2021, the country will achieve herd immunity.
Several investigations have refuted his assertion that myocarditis, a rare cardiac ailment, is more likely following a Covid vaccine than following a Covid infection.
He also criticized the Biden administration’s choice to suggest the Covid boosters for younger, lower-risk patients in a 2023 Wall Street Journal opinion piece. The medical community is increasingly coming to the conclusion that young, healthy individuals do not require additional Covid vaccinations.
Makary may serve under Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s choice for Secretary of Health and Human Services, if he is nominated and confirmed. HHS is responsible for 13 agencies, including the FDA.
Kennedy’s extreme public health beliefs, notably his anti-vaccine campaigning, drew harsh criticism from the scientific and medical community.
Makary defended Kennedy during an appearance on Fox News on Sunday, arguing that he is the least “scary” thing occurring in the American healthcare system and that people shouldn’t “dissect” what Kennedy said “30 years ago.”
Makary stated, “He wants to address corruption in our government health agencies as well as corruption in health care.” “Many people find that message offensive, and many feel threatened by it.”
Given his prior remarks on COVID and his support for Kennedy, Dr. Paul Offit, a vaccine specialist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, stated that Makary is unable to serve as FDA commissioner.
According to Offit, “He’s willing to lie to the American public,” “Why do we think this someone who should head the FDA?”
Dr. Robert Califf, a cardiologist who served as FDA commissioner during the second term of President Barack Obama, is the current commissioner.
During his first term, Trump appointed oncologist Dr. Stephen Hahn and physician Dr. Scott Gottlieb as FDA commissioners.
