Vinay Prasad Leaving Role As FDA’s Top Vaccine And Biotech Regulator
Prasad, who has been embroiled in recent controversial decisions at the Food and Drug Administration, will leave in late April. Separately, surgeon general nominee Casey Means is facing opposition on multiple fronts. Also, 11 more children have died from flu-related complications.
The Food and Drug Administration鈥檚 embattled vaccine chief, Dr. Vinay Prasad, is once again leaving the agency 鈥 the second time in less than a year that he鈥檚 departed after controversial decisions involving the review of vaccinations and specialty drugs for rare diseases. FDA Commissioner Marty Makary announced the news to FDA staff in an email late Friday, saying Prasad would depart at the end of April. Makary said Prasad would return to his academic job at the University of California, San Francisco. (Perrone, 3/6)
Casey Means, President Donald Trump鈥檚 pick for surgeon general, has achieved an unlikely feat: uniting vaccine skeptics and mainstream medical advocates against her nomination. Activists in both camps are now urging senators to vote her down. (Friedman and Paun, 3/6)
On the spread of flu and measles 鈥
Eleven new pediatric flu deaths were reported this week, according to the latest update on US flu activity from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A total of 90 children have died from flu-related complications this season, the CDC said in its weekly FluView report. Approximately 85% of those deaths were in children who were not fully vaccinated against flu. (Dall, 3/6)
In southern Utah, a measles outbreak that鈥檚 been simmering since last summer is showing signs of wider spread. Now, state health officials are pleading with residents to take the virus seriously. 鈥淚t is not a mild infection. It is not a mild virus. It is severe illness,鈥 Utah鈥檚 state epidemiologist, Dr. Leisha Nolen, said at a news briefing Thursday. (Edwards, 3/6)
Two new cases of measles were confirmed in North Dakota Friday. That brings the total to 23 for the year so far.聽The two new cases are in Traill and Pembina counties, which both border Minnesota. (Ratanpal, 3/7)
Public health disease-trackers have identified four more cases of measles in an outbreak linked to two schools in Broomfield. The newly announced infections all involve unvaccinated children between the ages of 5 and 17. (Ingold, 3/6)
The US measles count climbed by 145 today, reaching 1,281 cases, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today in its weekly update, with cases in Texas now approaching 100. For all of last year US officials confirmed 2,258 infections, a number the nation appears on pace to surpass this year. The Pan American Health Organization recently announced it has pushed back its decision on whether the country loses its measles elimination status鈥攚hich it gained in 2000鈥攖o November, after the midterm elections. (Wappes, 3/6)
