Indian-origin Vinay Prasad becomes US’ top vaccine official. Who is he? Why is he controversial?

Dr Vinay Prasad might be FDA’s top vaccine regulator.

Controversial oncoologist-haematologist Vinay Prasad would be the FDA’s top vaccine regulator. Apart from his intensive analysis and contribution within the area of oncology, he is identified for his scathing remarks in opposition to the FDA and US well being insurance policies. FDA Commissioner Martin Makary introduced Prasad’s appointment as the brand new director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, which oversees evaluate of vaccines, blood merchandise and a few genetic medicines.“Dr Prasad brings the kind of scientific rigor, independence, and transparency we need at CBER—a significant step forward,” Makary wrote in a publish on the social media web site X.In latest years, Prasad has change into a daily on podcasts related to Health Secretary Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” motion.

Prasad’s criticism of US well being insurance policies

During the pandemic, Dr Prasad discovered fault with social distancing and expressed doubt over vaccine for kids. He additionally criticized Donald Trump through the pandemic for taking disproven medicines to forestall the unfold of the virus and for refusing to make use of facemasks on the White House. He freely expresses his opinion in X, his Substack referred to as Sensible Medicine and the podcast The Plenary Session. He is the creator of the books “Malignant: How Bad Policy and Bad Evidence Harm People with Cancer” and “Ending Medical Reversal: Improving Outcomes, Saving Lives.”

Who is Vinay Prasad? His formative years

Born within the US to immigrant mother and father, Dr Prasad’s formative years was in Ohio and Chicago. He went to Michigan State University, the place he took programs in well being care ethics and physiology. He accomplished his medical diploma on the University of Chicago in 2009 and accomplished a residency in inner medication at Northwestern University in 2012. From 2015 to 2020, Prasad was assistant after which affiliate professor on the Oregon Health & Science University.He presently works at San Francisco General Hospital. Prasad is presently a full professor of hematology-oncology at UCSF.