CDC Names Controversial ‘Country Doctor’ as Top Scientist Amid Vaccine Debates
Dr. Jimmy K. Abraham has been named the principal deputy director at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The appointment places him as the most senior scientist in the agency, with the current acting director lacking a medical degree. A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services confirmed the decision on Monday.
Abraham’s new role makes him second-in-command at the CDC. Before this position, he served as Louisiana’s state surgeon general, a post he took up last year. He has described himself as a 'country doctor' and holds a medical licence in Louisiana, though he is not board-certified in family medicine.
The appointment shifts decision-making power within the CDC to a figure with a history of opposing vaccine campaigns. Abraham’s background in politics, veterinary medicine, and his recent public health role in Louisiana will now influence national policy. His position as the agency’s top scientist comes at a time of ongoing debate over vaccine mandates and public health messaging.
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