Louisiana Surgeon General Ralph Abraham — a vocal supporter of the Make America Healthy Again movement and a sharp critic of Covid vaccinations — has been named principal deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson confirmed the appointment to NBC News, although it had not been made public as of Tuesday afternoon.
The Principal Deputy Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is a high-level position. As second-in-command, Abraham will be able to serve as a key advisor on a variety of public health issues.
A three-term Louisiana state congressman, Abraham worked as a veterinarian for 10 years before attending medical school. According to him biography on the Louisiana Department of Health websiteAbraham was a “family medicine practitioner” when he was named state surgeon general in 2024. He described himself as a “family medicine physician.”village doctor” in an essay published in April.
Although Abraham is licensed to practice medicine in Louisiana, Louisiana illustrator reported in February, he did not appear to be certified in family medicine. Abraham's search for American Board of Family Medicine website did not give any results. Separate search by Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiner website Abraham is listed as a general practitioner, but not as a family medicine doctor. (Board certification is not required to practice in any specific specialty, but is considered an additional level of certification of a physician's credentials, experience, and knowledge, according to American Board of Physicians by Specialty.)
Abraham has been a vocal opponent of Covid vaccines. In September he told the Shreveport Times. that he “sees the trauma caused by the Covid vaccine every day.” There was no explanation as to what injuries he was referring to.
In February This was reported by the Associated Press. that Abraham, in an internal memo, directed the Louisiana Department of Health to “no longer promote mass vaccination” through media campaigns similar to those for flu shots, which are typically given at the start of the winter respiratory virus season. The AP obtained a memo signed by Abraham.
Abraham's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Although influenza activity is still low this season, according to Latest CDC Flu ReportLouisiana reports the highest rate of influenza-like illnesses in the country.
Last year, under Abraham's leadership, the state Department of Health waited several months after two children died of whooping cough before officially warning the public about the rise in cases across the state.
On XAbraham advertised a drug called leucovorin as a promising treatment for some children with autism. There is limited evidence that it may help a small number of children, but there are no large studies suggesting widespread benefit.
As the Republican candidate for governor of Louisiana in 2019, Abraham released TV adverts attack abortion rights and the transgender community.
