Sarah Bennett
In August 2025, a group of doctors sued the CDC over its 'untested' childhood vaccine schedule, alleging that it has never been tested as it is actually administered. The CDC has been accused of ignoring warnings from scientific advisors about the potential dangers of its vaccine schedule and punishing doctors who questioned it. This incident highlights the ongoing issue of vaccine misinformation, which has led to public health officials becoming targets of violence. In the same month, a shooting took place at the CDC headquarters in Atlanta, with the gunman reportedly motivated by Covid-19 vaccine conspiracy theories.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of publication | 20th August 2025 |
| Authors | Dr. Paul Thomas, Dr. Kenneth P. Stoller, and Stand for Health Freedom |
| Defendant | Susan P. Monarez, CDC Director |
| Plaintiffs' argument | CDC's universal childhood vaccine recommendations are overly rigid and enforced through ACIP's narrow framework, excluding risk factors and preventing physicians' individual judgment. |
| Plaintiffs' demands | Suspend CDC vaccine recommendations until cumulative safety studies are done, protect physicians' right to speak openly about patient safety, and ensure parental consent before administering vaccines. |
| CDC response | Silence, expansion of vaccine schedule, and punishment of questioning doctors. |
| CDC vaccination schedule | The most aggressive in the world, allegedly untested, and causing American children to become the sickest in the developed world. |
| CDC's role in misinformation | CDC employees work remotely after the shooting, and the CDC regrets not being able to meet in person. |
| CDC director's statement | Susan Monarez acknowledges the need to rebuild trust and expresses support for staff during a challenging time. |
| Union's response | The CDC union demands federal officials condemn vaccine misinformation, as it endangers scientists' lives. |
| Shooter's beliefs | The shooter, Patrick Joseph White, blamed the COVID-19 vaccine for his depression and suicide, and his motive remains under investigation. |
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Doctors sue CDC over 'untested' childhood vaccine schedule
In August 2025, a group of doctors and health freedom advocates sued the CDC, alleging that its childhood vaccine schedule has never been properly tested for cumulative safety effects. The plaintiffs—Dr. Paul Thomas, Dr. Kenneth P. Stoller, and Stand for Health Freedom—are challenging the CDC's universal childhood vaccine schedule, which they call "the most aggressive program in the world". The defendant in the case is Susan P. Monarez, the director of the CDC.
The lawsuit alleges that the CDC has failed to meet basic scientific and legal standards for its childhood vaccine program and that the agency's recommendations are not supported by cumulative safety evidence. The plaintiffs argue that the CDC's universal childhood vaccine recommendations are based on the untested assumption that if each vaccine is safe in isolation, the entire schedule must be safe. They also assert that the CDC has participated in "deliberate ignorance" regarding its vaccine policies, including failing to submit the required biennial vaccine safety reports to Congress.
The lawsuit seeks to suspend all CDC universal childhood vaccine recommendations until cumulative, long-term safety studies are completed and to protect physicians from retaliation when they speak openly about patient safety. The plaintiffs stress that until the CDC proves the full childhood vaccine schedule is safe, every vaccine decision must be made between the doctor and the patient's family. It is important to note that this case does not challenge state vaccine laws, nor are the plaintiffs anti-vaccine. Instead, they demand that the federal government provide real safety evidence before issuing universal recommendations that become the basis for state mandates.
The CDC's childhood vaccine schedule has come under scrutiny, with allegations that it has never been safety tested as administered. The lawsuit highlights how America's vaccine approach differs dramatically from other developed nations, with the United States administering more vaccines to children than any other country. Despite this, American children are among the sickest in the developed world, with high rates of chronic diseases and conditions such as autism, ADHD, asthma, and severe allergies. The CDC's failure to conduct comprehensive safety testing, despite recommendations from its own scientific advisors, is also brought into question.
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Covid vaccine conspiracy theories
Conspiracy theorists claim that any untimely death or health issue since the pandemic was caused by the Covid vaccines, despite a lack of evidence. This has led to scientists, doctors, and public health officials being targeted and put at risk. The CDC union and other groups have called for federal officials to condemn vaccine misinformation and take a clear stance against disinformation to protect those working in public health.
One specific group of doctors has sued the CDC over its 'untested' childhood vaccine schedule, alleging that it has never been tested as it is administered and that it fails to protect children from potential harm. They argue for shared clinical decision-making, ensuring that every vaccine decision is made between a doctor and a family, rather than being imposed by a federal committee.
The spread of misinformation has been attributed in part to treating science as the only source of truth during the pandemic, neglecting other important factors such as lived experience, context, history, culture, and values. This has made science vulnerable to being twisted for political ends. Additionally, public officials and experts have often failed to effectively communicate the complexities and trade-offs involved in their decisions, further contributing to the divisive nature of the vaccine debate.
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Vaccine misinformation
The spread of misinformation has been facilitated by social media, with far-right political activists claiming that the Covid-19 vaccines have "killed many people" and predicted more deaths. Pro-vaccine commentators have also contributed to the polarisation by mocking and insulting vaccine-skeptical individuals. Additionally, public officials and experts have often failed to effectively communicate the complexities and trade-offs involved in their decision-making processes.
The CDC, as an organisation, has also been accused of contributing to vaccine misinformation. A group of doctors has sued the CDC over its 'untested' childhood vaccine schedule, arguing that the CDC's recommendations are overly rigid and enforced without considering individual risk factors. They claim that the CDC's policies fail to protect children from potential harm and that the organisation has ignored calls for further safety studies.
The CDC union and its leadership have asked federal officials to condemn vaccine misinformation, stating that it puts the lives of scientists, doctors, and public health officials at risk. They have emphasised the need for accurate, science-based information and clear communication from leaders to help rebuild trust and prevent further violence.
The Covid-19 vaccine debate has highlighted the complex interplay between science, government authority, personal freedom, and economic interests in public health. It underscores the importance of clear and transparent communication from trusted sources to ensure that public health decisions are understood and accepted by the public.
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CDC's dishonesty
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been accused of dishonesty and corruption by some commentators. These accusations include claims that the CDC hypes up inconsequential "pandemics" each year to obtain more funding, promotes and protects vaccines regardless of their quality, and criticizes integrative medical therapies. There are also allegations of financial dealings with bio-pharmaceutical companies, which could influence the CDC's decisions and recommendations.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent vaccine rollout have been a particular focus of these accusations. Some claim that the CDC engaged in a variety of unscrupulous actions to promote the COVID vaccines. For example, an anonymous email was sent to an infectious disease physician and epidemiologist, Dr. Gounder, claiming that she had killed her husband with COVID vaccines. This was a reboot of a baseless conspiracy theory that had been spread following her husband's death in late 2022 from a ruptured aortic aneurysm, which had no connection to COVID vaccines, as confirmed by autopsy results.
The spread of misinformation about COVID vaccines, including by far-right American political activists, has contributed to a perception of the CDC as being dishonest or misleading. This has led to a dangerous breakdown of trust in public health officials and experts, with some individuals even resorting to violence, as evidenced by a shooting at the CDC headquarters in Atlanta.
While the CDC has not directly addressed these accusations, they have acknowledged the impact of misinformation. The CDC union has asked federal officials to condemn vaccine misinformation, as it puts lives at risk. The complex interplay between science, government authority, personal freedom, and economic interests in public health decision-making further complicates the issue.
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CDC employees demand protection from vaccine misinformation
In August 2025, a gunman opened fire at the headquarters of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia, killing a police officer. The shooter, who died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, blamed the COVID-19 vaccine for making him depressed and suicidal.
In the wake of the shooting, a CDC workers' union called for a clear and unequivocal stance from federal officials and CDC leadership in condemning vaccine misinformation, which they believe contributed to the attack and is putting scientists' lives at risk. The union also demanded that CDC staff should not be required to return to work immediately, as the buildings are still riddled with bullet holes, and requested additional security measures until the investigation is complete.
The attack has been linked to a broader climate of hostility and mistrust towards public health officials and scientists, fuelled by anti-vaccine rhetoric and misinformation spread by influential figures, including HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Kennedy, a vaccine sceptic, founded the anti-vaccine group Children's Health Defense and has made misleading statements about vaccine safety. More than 750 former and current HHS employees accused Kennedy of spreading vaccine misinformation and contributing to the harassment of health officials.
Public health leaders across the country have experienced violence and harassment since anti-vaccine sentiment took root during the pandemic. Online, COVID-19 vaccine misinformation has been widespread, with social media users and far-right activists making baseless claims about vaccine safety and mocking pro-vaccine individuals. Public officials have struggled to communicate effectively about the value of scientific evidence and the trade-offs inherent in public health decision-making.
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Frequently asked questions
No, but there have been instances of doctors suing the CDC over its 'untested' childhood vaccine schedule.
CDC stands for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A man opened fire at the CDC headquarters in Atlanta, killing a police officer. The shooter was also found dead at the scene.
The shooter was reportedly depressed and suicidal and blamed the COVID-19 vaccine for his mental health issues.
The CDC union demanded that federal officials condemn vaccine misinformation, as it was putting scientists and public health officials at risk.
