Dr. Martin Kulldorff Appointed to Senior Role at Department of Health and Human Services

WASHINGTON — Former Harvard Medical School professor and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) vaccine adviser Dr. Martin Kulldorff has been named to a senior advisory position at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), officials said Monday. Kulldorff, an epidemiologist and biostatistician, will serve as the chief science officer for the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE), providing policy advice to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Kulldorff most recently chaired the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Kennedy praised Kulldorff’s leadership, stating that he transformed ACIP into a committee that delivers “gold-standard science for the American people.” Kennedy expressed optimism about Kulldorff’s role in developing evidence-based health policies.

Kulldorff’s appointment has drawn some criticism due to his past statements opposing COVID-19 vaccine mandates. He has said that mandates were “both unscientific and unethical” and argued that high vaccination coverage can be achieved without mandates. Kulldorff also contended that lockdowns prior to the availability of COVID-19 vaccines caused disproportionate harm to underprivileged populations.

In October 2020, Kulldorff co-authored the Great Barrington Declaration, which recommended keeping workplaces and schools open to allow the United States to achieve herd immunity. National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, who co-wrote the declaration with Kulldorff, noted that this approach now influences HHS policy.

Before his role at ACIP, Kulldorff contributed to building vaccine and drug safety surveillance systems at the CDC and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). He has also served on the FDA Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee and the ACIP COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Technical Work Group.

Kulldorff expressed honor in joining Kennedy’s team and looks forward to contributing to science-based public health policies aimed at improving health outcomes in the United States.