FDA Vaccine Chief Departs Agency for Second Time in Less Than a Year

Vinay Prasad leaves the FDA amid controversies over vaccine and drug reviews

Published on Mar. 7, 2026

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Dr. Vinay Prasad, the embattled head of the FDA's vaccine division, is leaving the agency for the second time in less than a year. FDA Commissioner Marty Makary announced Prasad's departure, stating he will return to his academic position at the University of California, San Francisco. Prasad's tenure has been marked by high-profile controversies involving the FDA's review of vaccines, gene therapies, and specialty drugs, with some companies criticizing the agency for reversing previous approvals.

Why it matters

Prasad's departure highlights the ongoing challenges and controversies surrounding the FDA's vaccine and drug review processes. His tenure has been marked by clashes with biotech companies, patient groups, and political allies of former President Trump, raising questions about the agency's standards and decision-making.

The details

Prasad was briefly forced out of his role as FDA vaccine chief in July 2025 after running afoul of biotech executives, patient groups, and conservative allies of former President Trump. He was reinstated less than two weeks later with the backing of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Commissioner Makary. Prasad, a longtime academic and critic of the FDA's drug review standards, has taken a seemingly contradictory approach, at times announcing steps to speed up reviews while also imposing new warnings and study requirements, particularly on COVID-19 vaccines that have been a target for Kennedy, a longtime anti-vaccine activist.

  • Prasad was briefly forced out of his role as FDA vaccine chief in July 2025.
  • Prasad was reinstated less than two weeks later in July 2025.
  • Prasad will depart the FDA at the end of April 2026.

The players

Dr. Vinay Prasad

The embattled head of the FDA's vaccine division who is leaving the agency for the second time in less than a year.

Marty Makary

The FDA Commissioner who announced Prasad's departure.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The Health Secretary who backed Prasad's reinstatement to the FDA in July 2025.

University of California, San Francisco

The academic institution Prasad will return to after leaving the FDA.

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What they’re saying

“Prasad would depart at the end of April.”

— Marty Makary, FDA Commissioner (wbal.com)

What’s next

The FDA will need to appoint a new vaccine chief to lead the agency's review of COVID-19 shots and other critical immunizations.

The takeaway

Prasad's departure underscores the ongoing tensions and controversies surrounding the FDA's vaccine and drug review processes, which have faced criticism from various stakeholders. The agency will need to carefully navigate these challenges as it seeks to restore confidence in its decision-making.