FDA commissioner evades questions on Covid shot, calls CDC panel a ‘kangaroo court’

In a CBS interview, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary provided limited clarity on Covid‑19 vaccine guidance, urging Americans to consult their doctors instead. He stated the data on vaccines for healthy children and pregnant people is mixed and criticized the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel as a “kangaroo court.” Recent federal moves, including by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have restricted vaccine recommendations, particularly for pregnant people and healthy children. Experts raised concerns over removing vaccination recommendations for pregnant individuals, noting higher risks for unvaccinated mothers and their babies. Makary highlighted the need for more data but couldn’t specify when such research would occur, Stat News has reported. He also endorsed a risk‑based approach, mirroring CDC’s advisory committee’s pending shift.