Controversies over vaccine and drug reviews mark second exit in less than a year.3 min readMar 7, 2026 08:23 AM IST First published on: Mar 7, 2026 at 08:22 AM IST ShareWhatsapptwitterFacebookIn this undated photo provided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Vinay Prasad smiles for a portrait. (U.S. FDA via AP)Dr Vinay Prasad, the top vaccine official at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), will leave the agency again at the end of April, according to an announcement by the FDA commissioner reported by Associated Press (AP).FDA Commissioner Marty Makary told staff in an email late on Friday that Prasad would step down and return to his academic position at the University of California, San Francisco.Makary said Prasad would leave the agency at the end of April and resume his university work. According to AP, the departure comes after months of disputes over how the agency handled reviews of vaccines, gene therapies and medicines for rare diseases.Who is Vinay Prasad?Prasad is a doctor and researcher who became known for his criticism of how the FDA reviews and approves new medicines. Before joining the agency, he worked as a professor and medical researcher at the University of California, San Francisco.He joined the FDA in May last year to oversee work related to vaccines and several specialised drugs. His role placed him at the centre of decisions on vaccine approvals and other new treatments.Story continues below this adAccording to AP, Prasad’s decisions at the FDA have often drawn criticism from pharmaceutical companies and patient groups. Some companies said the agency reversed earlier decisions on certain drugs and requested new studies for products that had already been approved.Previous exit and returnThis is the second time in less than a year that Prasad has left the FDA. In July he was briefly removed from his position after disputes with biotechnology executives, patient organisations and conservative allies of US President Donald Trump.Also read US FDA memo links 10 child deaths to Covid vaccines, reportsHowever, he returned to the role less than two weeks later with the support of US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr and FDA Commissioner Makary.Most Read1US-Israel vs Iran War Live Updates: Israel launches overnight attacks on Iran, Lebanon; Tehran warns allies ‘legitimate targets’2Nepal Election Results 2026 LIVE Updates: RSP set for landslide win, Balendra Shah likely next Prime Minister3US-Israel vs Iran War Live Updates: Israel launches overnight attacks on Iran, Lebanon; Tehran warns allies ‘legitimate targets’4Dubai News Live Updates: UAE intercepts nine ballistic missiles, 109 drones amid ongoing Iran attacks5Dubai News Highlights: New Iranian attacks target hotel and residential buildings in Bahrain’s capital6Nepal rejects old guard, Balen Shah, 35, is set to become PMWhat’s the debate over vaccine policiesDuring his time at the FDA, Prasad supported some measures aimed at speeding up the review of medicines. At the same time, he also introduced additional warnings and study requirements for certain biotechnology drugs and vaccines.Story continues below this adAccording to AP, some of these decisions involved vaccines developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, which have been the subject of debate in US politics.Prasad’s departure comes as the FDA continues to face scrutiny over how it evaluates vaccines and new treatments.AdvertisementLoading Recommendations...Live BlogDhurandhar 2 Trailer Release Live Updates: After several delays, Dhurandhar 2 trailer to drop today; here’s when fans can watch it3 minutes agoNepal Election Results 2026 LIVE Updates: RSP set for landslide win, Balendra Shah likely next Prime Minister4 minutes agoDubai News Live Updates: UAE intercepts nine ballistic missiles, 109 drones amid ongoing Iran attacks8 minutes agoLakshya Sen vs Li Shifeng Highlights, All England Open Badminton Quarter-Final: Lakshya enters semifinal after superb 21-13, 21-16 win1 hour agoAllu Sirish, Nayanika Reddy Wedding Live Updates: Suriya, Ram Charan and others attend event9 hours ago