Drama
HHS spokesman Andrew Nixon later released a statement to the media hinting at Malone’s withdrawal, adding: “Unless it is officially announced by us, any claims about what we will do next are unfounded speculation.”
Malone told Roll Call today that Nixon’s response prompted his departure. “I’m done with CDC and ACIP after Andrew taunted me with the press,” Malone said in a text message Tuesday morning. “That was the final straw.”
“Suffice it to say, I don’t like drama and I have better things to do,” he said.
HHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Rich Danker and former ACIP chairman Martin Kulldorff, now HHS’s chief science officer, later contacted Roll Call on Tuesday and released a statement confirming Malone’s departure and defending Nixon. “In light of the court order and the tremendous amount of volunteer time devoted by ACIP members to improving public health, I can sympathize with (Malone’s) decision to step aside,” Kulldorf said. “As for Andrew Nixon, I found him to be professional and honest in all his dealings in support of ACIP.” Kulldorff and Danker declined to comment further.
Malone, on the other hand, did not speak. In Additional comments to the New York Timeshe said his departure was “not an impulsive decision”.
“Hundreds of hours of unpaid labor, incredible hatred from many quarters, a hostile press, infighting, weapons leaks, sabotage – I have better things to do,” he said.
Another ACIP member, Joseph Hibbeln, a Kennedy pick who often disagreed with Malone, told the Times that Malone’s desire to avoid drama “contradicts his previous dramatic and confusing statements.”
“It’s good that Dr. Malone now wants to reduce the drama about vaccines,” Hibbeln said.
