Thread by @DonnaYoungDC

#NIH's Fauci, @CDCDirector Redfield, @SteveFDA Hahn & @HHS_ASH Giroir testify today before @GOPHELP @HELPCmteDems on U.S. #COVID19 response.

help.senate.gov/hearings/covid…

#vaccines #TestingTestingTesting #CDC #FDA

https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1308734626593206273

.@GOPHELP @HELPCmteDems hearing now underway with #NIH Fauci, @SteveFDA, @CDCDirector Redfield & @HHS_ASH Giroir on U.S. #COVID19 response.

.@SenAlexander notes its final hearing as chairman.

#FDA #CDC #NIAID #vaccines #TestingTestingTesting

.@SenAlexander notes development & manufacturing of #COVID19 #vaccines are being done in parallel.

"The risk is taxpayer money."

.@SenAlexander: The only ones who will know when #COVID19 #vaccines will be ready are #FDA scientists.

Even @SteveFDA doesn't know.

[What Alexander is NOT saying is Trump has NO idea, despite his repeated claims.]

.@SenAlexander: Congress [U.S. taxpayers] funded #RADx "#SharkTank" #NIH tests contest.

#COVID19 #TestingTestingTesting #NIH #FDA #CDC

.@SenAlexander now praising Congress & Trump.

[Hey, it's taxpayer money. It's not Trump's. It doesn't belong to Congress. It's taxpayer funds. How about praise for the Americans who are actually funding all of this?]

#COVID19 #vaccines #TestingTestingTesting #NIH #CDC #FDA

What @SenAlexander is doing right now is a bit of self-praise without actually naming himself when he's talking about funding for #NIH

[Reminder: Trump has repeatedly sought to cut NIH funds, as well as #CDC funds, including in his current budget request]

#COVID19 #vaccines

.@SenAlexander dancing all around the fact Trump has repeatedly sought to cut #NIH, #CDC funding while he's lecturing Congress on ensuring emergency preparedness funding.

#COVID19 #vaccines

.@PattyMurray starts off praising #RuthBaderGinsburg, calling her a "friend, role model, & a woman who opened doors for all of us."

#COVID19 has left millions w/ #PreExistingConditions. Yet that hasn't stopped Republicans from seeking to end #Obamacare protections.

#ACA #SCOTUS

.@PattyMurray: I've seen nothing from Trump administration that inspires confidence.

We had a playbook — they ignored it.

They knew how dangerous this disease could be — & they downplayed it.

#COVID19 #TestingTestingTesting #NIH #FDA #CDC

.@PattyMurray: #COVID19 cases & deaths are still alarmingly high.

And we need to prepare for upcoming #flu season.

Yet, Trump still trying to sabotage work of our scientists.

#TestingTestingTesting #NIH #FDA #CDC

.@PattyMurray notes the misinformation Trump has spread about #COVID19, including his suggestions to ingest disinfectants.

Murray calls out @SecAzar [not testifying today] for his "alarming power-grab" in midst of the #pandemic.

#FDA #CDC #NIH

.@PattyMurray notes Trump appointees' interference into #CDC reports & making up conspiracy theories that it's a "deep state" agency.

She notes after @CDCDirector testified last week, Trump insisted Redfield was confused/mistaken.

#COVID19 #vaccines #NIH #FDA

Meanwhile, @EnergyCommerce is holding a hearing on #Obamacare & #COVID19

energycommerce.house.gov/committee-acti…

#ACA #PreExistingConditions

#NIH Fauci starts off noting #NIAID's four-prong strategy
nih.gov/news-events/ne…

#COVID19 #vaccines #TestingTestingTesting #NIH #FDA #CDC #pharma #biotech

Fauci notes #COVID19 "long-haulers" with fatigue, myalgia, neurological system issues/cognitive abnormalities.

A number recovered have disturbing inflammation of heart.

The kinds of things that tell us we must be humble don't completely understand nature of this illness.

.@CDCDirector Redfield notes 6700 @CDCgov staff engaged in #COVID19 response.

#CDC grounded in science & data [until the White House gets its hands on it]

#vaccines #TestingTestingTesting #NIH #FDA #MaskUp #masks #SocialDistancing

.@CDCDirector urges #GetYourFluShot.

#Flu vaccination is safe.
All Americans should embrace #influenza vaccines.

#COVID19 #vaccines #TestingTestingTesting #NIH #FDA #CDC #MaskUp #WashYourHands #SocialDistancing

.@CDCDirector Redfield notes #CDC today awarded $200 million to 64 jurisdictions through the existing Immunizations and #Vaccines for Children cooperative agreement to help states prepare for the COVID-19 vaccine.

#COVID19 #NIH #FDA #MaskUp #WashYourHands #SocialDistancing

.@HHS_ASH Giroir insists Trump admin has made protecting elderly a priority.

Reminder: Just days ago, Trump called the elderly who are sick & dying of #COVD19 "virtually nobody."

200,000+ Americans are dead, mostly elderly.

Priority?

#TestingTestingTesting #CDC #NIH #FDA

A reminder as @SteveFDA testifies right now, he has never retracted his Aug. 23 misleading & false remarks on #convalescentplasma in #COVID19. He's said he regrets them. He may be embarrassed, but he's not actually said "I'm sorry" or "I apologize."

https://twitter.com/US_FDA/status/1297662384060981248

#FDA

.@SteveFDA: When sponsor reaches conclusion, they will decide whether to apply for approval or EUA.
#FDA will receive, scientists will review.
June 30 guidance #COVID19 #vaccines.
Also working on additional info so clear for EUA.

@SteveFDA: Before #COVID19 #vaccines EUA, #FDA would need to determine statutory standard met.
Must demonstrate adequate manufacturing data, quality/consistency/data from 1 well-designed phase 3 trial demonstrates in clear/compelling manner.
EUA also must have plan for follow up.

.@SteveFDA: In the end, #FDA will not authorize or approve a vaccine that we will not feel comfortable giving to our families.

#COVID19 #vaccines

.@CDCDirector messed up dates of the changes on the #CDC testing guidelines.
Changes posted Aug 24, not Aug 26 as Redfield just said.
Redfield's statement emailed to some reporters Aug 26, not Aug 27.
Fauci was in surgery Aug. 20 when task force cleared initial changes.

.@PattyMurray asked about the #CDC airborne guidelines posted Sept. 18 then removed Sept.21.
She notes Redfield said posted in error.
.@CDCDirector: We're committed to data & science.
Murray still raises concerns with his response.

#CDC Sept 18 said [now removed]: "It is possible that #COVID19 may spread through the droplets and airborne particles that are formed when a person who has COVID-19 coughs, sneezes, sings, talks or breathes."

Redfield insists that was posted in error.
cdc.gov/coronavirus/20…

.@SenBobCasey: "When will Senate Republicans become obsessed with reducing nursing home deaths?"

He says Senate GOP has done pretty much nothing else but push through Trump's judicial nominations.

Now, it's #RuthBaderGinsburg's replacement.

#RBG #COVID19 #NIH #FDA #CDC

Fauci, Giroir, Redfield all said they have confidence in #FDA process & would get take #COVID19 #vaccines approved.

.@SenatorBurr notes U.S. been working on #pandemic preparedness since 2002.

[Reminder: Trump threw out the plans prepared by @BarackObama & George W. Bush. And now we have 200,000+ dead Americans]

#CDC #NIH #FDA

"These have been very robust," @SteveFDA says about #COVID19 #vaccines trials.

ICYMI: J&J pursues 1-dose strategy in 4th COVID-19 vaccine study backed by US taxpayers spglobal.com/marketintellig… #FDA

.@SteveFDA notes could stop phase 3 trials for safety issues, futility or b/c study met prespecified criteria.

#COVID19 #vaccines #TestingTestingTesting #NIH #FDA #CDC

Fauci notes that even though #COVID19 is highly transmissible/contagious, it does happen in some cases that somebody living with person confirmed with the virus doesn't get infected.
Happens with other diseases, too, including #HIV.

[But warning: Don't try this just to see]

.@SenatorBaldwin asks @CDCDirector if #CDC will change meat packing guidance in light of the death toll & harm?

Rather than giving a yes or no, @CDCDirector replies: "I appreciate your comment." 🙄🤔🙄

#COVID19 #vaccines #TestingTestingTesting #NIH #FDA

.@RandPaul now going on about the "nanny state."

#COVID19 #vaccines #TestingTestingTesting #NIH #FDA #CDC #MaskUp #WashYourHands #SocialDistancing

Fauci to @RandPaul: I'd be happy at a different time to go over details.
You compared us to Sweden & there's a lot of difference.
Compare Sweden's death rate to other comparable Scandinavian countries, it's worse!

#COVID19 #NIH #FDA #CDC #MaskUp #SocialDistancing

Wow! Fauci to @RandPaul about his claims about NY:
"You misconstrued that senator & you've done that repetitively the past."

#COVID19 #NIH #FDA #CDC #MaskUp #SocialDistancing

Fauci won that round again with @RandPaul.

#COVID19 #NIH #FDA #CDC #MaskUp #SocialDistancing

Fauci shut down @RandPaul today!

#COVID19 #NIH #FDA #CDC #MaskUp #SocialDistancing #WashYourHands

.@atrupar captured Fauci smackdown with @RandPaul:

https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1308793235805007874

#NIH #COVID19 #MaskUp #SocialDistancing #WashYourHands

Fauci shuts down @RandPaul: "You're alone in that."

#NIH #COVID19 #MaskUp #SocialDistancing #WashYourHands

.@SenatorCollins grills Giroir about @SecAzar about taking control of signing off on all #HHS rules/regs, including #FDA.

Giroir insists it won't slow down anything.

Collins highly skeptical.
[see my story here: spglobal.com/marketintellig… ] #COVID19

Fauci gives a strong & firm "NO" when asked if he owns any #pharma #biotech stocks or has financial conflicts.
Other leaders also say no.

And then @SenWarren brings up former exec Slaoui, senior adviser for Operation #WarpSpeed & his conflicts.

.@SenWarren: Why does Dr. Slaoui get to play by a different set of rules.

.@SteveFDA then insists there's a "very bright line" between #WarpSpeed & #FDA.

Warren: Shouldn't Slaoui eliminate his conflicts? Should he resign?

Hahn: I can't prejudge b/c I don't know the facts.

.@SenWarren: "The first person to be fired should be Dr. Slaoui."

#COVID19 #vaccines #pharma #biotech

.@BillCassidy wants everyone to know he's a doctor.

#COVID19 #NIH #CDC #FDA

"We have #PreExistingConditions now," @timkaine says about he & his wife having #COVID19. He notes he also knows at least four people who have died.

"Not for a second has this administration stopped its concerted effort to take health insurance away from people"

#Obamacare #ACA

.@timkaine notes Trump tweeted to his followers to "Liberate Virginia against this tyrannical governor" who followed the Trump administration's advice on #COVID19.

.@timkaine asks @CDCDirector what was incorrect on Sept. 18 #CDC #COVID19 airborne guidance that was yanked down 3 days later?

Redfield calls the Sept. 18-posted guidelines a "non-scientifically cleared document"

He said what's there now is "technically cleared document"

.@SenatorHassan: Will EUA #COVID19 #vaccines guidance require VRBPAC hold meetings/review data?

.@SteveFDA: We are committed to absolutely have meetings that will be scheduled. We'll be flexible.
Will be public.

Hassan: Do it for each of the vaccines?

Hahn: Yes, senator.

.@SteveFDA: I honestly do not know when we will receive our first application [for #COVID19 vaccine].

.@SenatorRomney: Close or month or 2 from now?

Hahn: I cannot speak to commercial confidential information.

#vaccines

.@SenatorRomney very confused on what the DSMB does.

#FDA #COVID19 #vaccines

.@SteveFDA: Process can take week, sometimes months.

We have not made a commitment to the timeline, per se [Um, tell Trump that PLEASE]

We do feel the urgency of the moment.
We will not delay but we will not cut corners.

#COVID19 #vaccines #FDA

Fauci: When you hear numbers of #COVID19 #vaccines doses, that's totality of all companies
Nov, maybe 50M doses.
Dec. another 100+M
By April, maybe 700M doses.
It won't be large proportion of population in Nov/Dec
Not going to have all doses by end of December.

.@CDCDirector: I have total confidence in importance of #vaccines.
Ultimately, will be vaccines get us back.
What I was trying to say, half may not get protection.
I was trying to emphasize how important masks are now.

#COVID19

.@CDCDirector Redfield now on #COVID19 #vaccines doses: It's going to take us till April, May June, probably July to get the entire American public completely vaccinated, but we will have the 700 million doses by late March, early April.

#CDC

.@CDCDirector dodges @SenTinaSmith's questions on if got political pushback after he made his remarks last week about importance of #masks.
Redfield refused to comment on Trump's claim that he phoned Redfield right after the hearing & said CDC chief was mistaken/confused.

.@SenatorBraun using today's #COVID19 hearing to do a little #2020Elections campaigning for Trump.

#NIH #CDC #FDA

So, did @SenatorBraun's constituents pay out of their pockets for those poster boards Braun is using today to essentially campaign for Trump?

Reminder: 200,000+ Americans are dead.

#COVID19 #NIH #CDC #FDA

.@DougJones asking about Trump's unsubstantiated claims: Is there a "deep state" at #FDA?
.@SteveFDA: I have 100% confidence at outstanding scientists/docs/nurses at FDA.
I have complete confidence in their decisions/actions.

#COVID19 #vaccines #pharma #biotech

.@DougJones: What's public to do when public officials/others inconsistent messages?
.@CDCDirector: We have to keep stressing we want all Americans to embrace wearing a face mask, be smart about #socialdistancing, #WashYourHands
If all wear #masks this outbreak come under control

.@CDCDirector responds to those emails/harassment from Caputo/Alexander: When #CDC officials are unfairly criticized & unfairly characterized, that's the real harm in all of this

He notes in military, never used to know people's political perspective.

.@PattyMurray: I'm going to continue to push back against every effort from Trump to interfere in response & his efforts to put politics over science/public health.

I will continue to call out misinformation or lies or conspiracies.

#COVID19 #FDA #CDC #NIH #vaccines

.@SenAlexander asks if anyone can get #COVID19 from #vaccines.

#NIH Fauci: That would be impossible.

Alexander: Is getting COVID a risk of vaccine

Fauci: That risk does not exist.

#NIH Fauci emphasizes don't yet know the efficacy or durability of protection from any of the #COVID19 #vaccines.
We will find out through clinical trials/follow up.

Read my story here on what #NIH Fauci just said about 1 dose #COVID19 shot vs. 2-dose #vaccines being developed by , .

J&J pursues 1-dose strategy in 4th COVID-19 vaccine study backed by US taxpayers spglobal.com/marketintellig…

"We could lose a lot of money," @SenAlexander says on manufacturing experimental #COVID19 #vaccines while developing them & then having to potentially throw out millions of doses of products that don't work.

But he insists it's worth it

[Those future hearings after he's gone]