Thread by @DrDenaGrayson

🚨Dr. Rick Bright–head of @BARDA the USG agency supporting #coronavirus #vaccine development–was REMOVED after pressing for rigorous vetting of #hydroxychloroquine hawked by @realDonaldTrump, saying science, not “politics and cronyism” must lead the way.💥
nytimes.com/2020/04/22/us/…

🔥Bright: “I believe this transfer was in response to my insistence that the government invest the billions of dollars...to address the #COVID19 pandemic into safe and scientifically vetted solutions, and not in drugs, vaccines and other technologies that lack scientific merit."

Former @BARDA chief Bright, who spent his entire career in #vaccine development in and outside of government.: “I am speaking out because to combat this deadly virus, #science — not politics or cronyism — has to lead the way."💥

Bright: "“My professional background has prepared me for a moment like this — to confront and defeat a deadly virus that threatens Americans...To this point, I have led the government’s efforts to invest in the best science available to combat the #COVID19 pandemic...

..."this resulted in clashes w/@HHSGov leadership, including criticism for my proactive efforts to invest early into vaccines & supplies critical to saving American lives. I also resisted efforts to fund potentially dangerous drugs promoted by those with political connections."🔥

“Specifically, and contrary to misguided directives, I limited the broad use of #chloroquine and #hydroxychloroquine, promoted by the administration as a panacea, but which clearly lack scientific merit."👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

#coronavirus #COVID19

“While I am prepared to look at all options and to think ‘outside the box’ for effective treatments, I rightly resisted efforts to provide an unproven drug (#hydroxychloroquine) on demand to the American public."💥

“These drugs (#chloroquine and #hydroxychloroquine) have potentially serious risks associated with them, including **increased mortality** observed in some recent studies in patients with #COVID19."💣

#coronavirus

Bright: "“Sidelining me in the middle of this #pandemic and placing politics and cronyism ahead of science puts lives at risk and stunts national efforts to safely and effectively address this urgent public health crisis."

He's EXACTLY right!👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

#coronavirus #COVID19

🔥BOOM: "I will request that the IGH of @HHSGov investigate the manner in which *this administration has politicized the work of BARDA and has pressured me and other conscientious scientists to fund companies with political connections* and efforts that lack scientific merit."💥

“Rushing blindly towards unproven drugs can be disastrous and result in countless more deaths. Science, in service to the health and safety of the American people, must always trump politics."

Here, here!👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

Dr. Rick Bright, a pre-eminent expert on #vaccine development fought for #science, not politics, to lead the way during this deadly #CoronavirusPandemic.

Dr. Bright is an American hero.🇺🇸

#coronavirus #COVID19 #RickBright #FireTrump

BARDA is *leading* our government's efforts to find an effective #vaccine against this deadly #coronavirus.

The Trump Admin REMOVED him, because he refused to hawk Trump's favorite drug, #hydroxychloroquine, which has NOT proven effective for #COVID19, but has caused DEATHS.🤬