Summary

Dr. Peter Marks, the FDA’s top vaccine regulator, resigned after reportedly being forced out amid clashes with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

In his resignation letter, Marks wrote that Kennedy wanted “subservient confirmation of his misinformation and lies.”

He criticized Kennedy’s stance on vaccines, accusing him of undermining public confidence.

Marks, who led the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research since 2016, played a key role in authorizing Covid vaccines and spearheading Operation Warp Speed. Kennedy, an anti-vaccine activist, has questioned the safety of Covid and MMR vaccines despite scientific consensus.

  • MagicShel@lemmy.zip
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    2 days ago

    When vaccines are no longer available in the US, there will be a tourism boost from Americans going elsewhere to get them. You guys can just shift us left by helping lefties survive while conservatives self-select to be decimated by disease.

    • trevor (he/they)@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      2 days ago

      That isn’t how this works. Herd immunity is extremely important for people who actually can’t safely be vaccinated, but more importantly, having large populations of anti-vaxxers will create ample opportunity for the viruses to mutate into forms that we don’t necessarily have vaccines for.

      We are all truly fucked unless we deal with these scum. It’s not just going to hurt the people causing the problem, and it will spread to the rest of the world.

      • MagicShel@lemmy.zip
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        2 days ago

        You understand what you’re saying with “deal with these scum,” right? They are the government. If they don’t outright ban vaccines, they will pull all funding of them.

        There is only one cure for a fascist government, and we aren’t desperate enough for that. Yet.

        Until then, we’ll have to work around them. Many on the left are marginalized folks. I don’t include myself there, but if anyone in this country knows how to skirt the rules to live their life, it’s them. They will lead the way.

        Underground vaccine clubs. Phrases like, “friends of Edward Jenner.” I mean it probably sounds a little more tongue in cheek than I intend. I’m not saying this will be a gay old time. I’m saying we will find ways to survive and thrive despite their best efforts, as people always have (I mean, you know, barring the occasional genocide).

        And if it becomes desperate enough to remove fascists the only way they can be, we will do that, too.

        • trevor (he/they)@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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          2 days ago

          I don’t disagree with any of this. We just also need to be realistic about the fact that viruses have no boundaries and they don’t discern between marginalized people and fascist shitheads when they mutate and spread.

          • phdepressed@sh.itjust.works
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            2 days ago

            That’s true too. There will be suffering, electing facists idiots kinda does that. Protecting yourself and your community of non-idiots is the best you can do. Find those vulnerable people and set up a group that can care for them vaccinated people delivering/making food and the like.

        • CosmicTurtle0@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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          2 days ago

          I’ve been saying for years that we’re going to have a civil war. I predicted it when I was a hard line conservative and I’ve been saying now as a bleeding heart liberal.

          I was just hoping that I’d be much older when it happened.

    • yumpsuit@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      Gonna stand at the US-Canadian border with my sleeve rolled up, cover myself in maple syrup, and wait for favorable winds so the Mounties’ vaccine drone can dart me

    • BagOfHeavyStones@piefed.social
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      2 days ago

      That’s assuming other countries will still let you in. If there’s some outbreak a bit like the 'Rona again, they might say no vaccine no entry.

      • MagicShel@lemmy.zip
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        2 days ago

        If they just forcibly vaccinate and quarantine, that would accomplish the mission. Worst vacation ever, though.