Concerns that politics are overshadowing biopharmaceutical makers' pursuit of successfully delivering safe and effective #vaccines against #COVID19 prompted even members of the drug industry to call on their colleagues to be more transparent.
"The issue of vaccine confidence is a critical one," said Merck & Co. Inc. Chairman and CEO Kenneth Frazier. "At the end of the day, the most important thing for us to do, is to reinforce to the public our commitment to safety as the number one thing."
While there is a need to move with urgency to develop a #COVID19 vaccine, companies must commit to not sacrifice safety under any set of circumstances, 's Frazier said during a Sept. 3 online briefing hosted @IFPMA.
The loss of trust in societal institutions has been unfortunate, 's Frazier said. It is critical for the drug industry to commit to "first do no harm," he said.
Leaders at @IAmBiotech urged their members to ensure they use best practices in conducting clinical trials to assure credibility, include diverse populations and disclose data at well-respected scientific meetings or in independent peer review journals and not in press releases.
A growing number of scientists, public health experts & lawmakers have raised concerns about Trump's recent remarks that he wants a #COVID19 vaccine by Nov 3 election & @MarkMeadows' admission the White House was willing to put "heat" on regulators if they "don't see the light."
Recent remarks by @SteveFDA Hahn have also raised eyebrows. @ASTHO said it was concerned Hahn said he was willing to grant EUAs to #COVID19#vaccines before they have completed late-stage human testing — an action the #FDA chief predicted could come before election day.
.@NIHDirector Collins & #NIAID Director Fauci said it was highly unlikely for any #COVID19 vaccine data to be ready for the #FDA's review in October.
Fauci said it was only "guesstimates" people were making about having successful phase 3 data available in October.
.@SenatorDurbin asked 7 drug companies if they were concerned about the perception corners are being cut because of political interference and the impact that may have on reducing vaccine uptake in certain populations.
.@WHCOVIDResponse briefing coming up at 10:30amET with someone different today: #HHS@SecBecerra, who's joining @CDCDirector Walensky, #NIH Fauci, Jeff Zients to discuss a roadmap to enable US to move forward safely & sustain/build on progress #COVID19😷
"Throughout our history we’ve learned this lesson – when dictators do not pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos. They keep moving. And, the costs & threats to America & the world keep rising.
"#Putin’s war was premeditated & unprovoked. He rejected efforts at diplomacy. He thought the West & @NATO wouldn’t respond. And, he thought he could divide us here at home.
Putin was wrong. We were ready."
.@VP@KamalaHarris: For the last year we've had people in positions of incredible power scapegoating Asian-Americans. People with the biggest pulpits spreading this kind of hate.
.@VP@KamalaHarris: A harm against any one of us is a harm against all of us.
The president and I will not be silent. We will not stand by. We will always speak out against violence, hate crimes & discrimination, wherever and whenever it occurs.