CDC Employees Express Irritation Over Kennedy's Antagonistic Stance on Vaccination
The tragic shooting at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta on August 8, 2025, has left one police officer dead and CDC employees feeling increasingly unsettled. The suspected shooter, Patrick White, a 30-year-old from Kennesaw, Georgia, is believed to have been motivated by misinformation linking his mental health issues to COVID-19 vaccines.
This severe incident occurred amidst a tumultuous period for the CDC, following HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy's controversial overhaul of the CDC's vaccine advisory committee. Kennedy dismissed all 17 existing members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and replaced them with his own appointees, many holding vaccine-skeptical views.
CDC staff and many public health experts have expressed frustration and concern that Kennedy's actions and public vaccine skepticism have undermined the committee's credibility, disrupted vaccine recommendations, and may have contributed to the hostile environment that culminated in the deadly attack. For instance, the former ACIP members dismissed by Kennedy have directly stated that the panel has "lost credibility" and that the rigorous vaccine recommendation process is "rapidly eroding" under the new leadership.
Kennedy's backing of figures like Dr. Robert Malone, who posted a controversial blog referencing Russian roulette just before the shooting, has intensified tensions and criticism from the public health community. His decisions have also drawn criticism from Congressional authorities, including Senator Richard Blumenthal, who assert that some appointees have no business on the ACIP and that these firings were a grave mistake contributing to the crisis atmosphere at the CDC.
In response, Kennedy's office argues that his changes restored public trust and strengthened the vaccine advisory process by bringing in a wider diversity of perspectives committed to what they call "evidence-based medicine and common sense," rejecting accusations of anti-vaccine groupthink.
Meanwhile, professional groups such as the American Academy of Pediatrics have publicly rejected Kennedy's COVID-19 vaccine stance, issuing their own evidence-based guidance to counter his recommendations and support continued vaccination efforts.
As the CDC community grapples with the aftermath of the shooting, an employee at the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the CDC, mentioned that Kennedy has demonized their work. The employee, along with others, expressed frustration and anger about Kennedy's actions.
In a bid to show support, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. visited the CDC's headquarters on Monday, where he was shown shattered windows across multiple buildings. In an email obtained by NBC News, Kennedy expressed prayers for the entire CDC agency, stating that the shooting was "deeply unsettling," especially for those working in Atlanta. He also stated, "you're not alone."
In the wake of the shooting, a virtual all-staff meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, but it's unclear if Kennedy will be in attendance. CDC employees have been instructed to work remotely this week.
Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease specialist at the University of California, San Francisco, stated that the Covid vaccine has become an easy scapegoat for the losses inflicted by the pandemic. He feels personally unsafe because he gives public talks about vaccines, and the CDC shooting has heightened those fears. Dr. Chin-Hong received multiple threatening emails at the peak of the pandemic and still gets emails "full of hate" about once a week.
The tragic shooting at the CDC headquarters has underscored the growing hostility towards public health officials, influenced by Kennedy's history of spreading vaccine misinformation. As the investigation into the shooting continues, the CDC community hopes for a return to a safer and more respectful environment.
[1] Source: News Article 1 [2] Source: News Article 2 [3] Source: News Article 3 [4] Source: News Article 4
- Despite efforts to restore public trust in the vaccine advisory process, the controversial overhaul of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy has been criticized for undermining the committee's credibility and disrupting vaccine recommendations. (News Article 1)
- The misinformation linking mental health issues to COVID-19 vaccines, which is believed to have motivated the tragic shooting at the CDC headquarters, is a harmful example of the growing hostility towards public health officials. (News Article 2)
- In the general news, there have been concerns about the mental health of professionals in the health and wellness sector, such as infectious disease specialists, who have experienced threats and hateful messages due to their advocacy for vaccines. (News Article 3)
- The shooting at the CDC headquarters has brought attention to the challenges facing workplace wellness in the casino and gambling industry, as employees struggling with mental health issues may resort to dangerous behaviors like violent acts. (News Article 4)
