Thread by @DonnaYoungDC

Azar on @CBSThisMorning insisting it's important for him to get $MRNA #COVID19 vax today b/c he's a "leader."
Azar's wife tested positive & he's refusing to quarantine & he's been at photo ops/briefings.
Today, he'll be at #NIH, putting Fauci, @NIHDirector, others at risk
Leader?

https://twitter.com/SPGMIHealthcare/status/1341279019212414977

Is it leadership to refuse to quarantine, claim you're an "essential worker" to get around that quarantine, hold photo ops putting others potentially at risk, not to mention stepping in front of health care workers at #NIH to get $MRNA #COVID19 vaccine?
1 month left Azar at #HHS

Would it have shown better leadership to follow #CDC's advice, #stayhome & #quarantine after being exposed to #COVID19 & wait your turn to get $MRNA vaccine rather than stepping in front of critical health care workers?

Azar claimed he gets the shot today b/c he's a "leader."

Fauci & @NIHDirector are health workers & played roles in $MRNA #COVID19 vaccine R&D.

Azar, who is refusing to quarantine after being exposed to COVID, is outgoing HHS secretary.

Who will Azar influence today by potentially risking others & stepping in front of health workers?

#NIH got 100 doses of $MRNA #COVID19 vaccine.

Azar is taking one of those doses today, while refusing the past week to #stayhome & #quarantine after being exposed to COVID-19

Azar's claim today to @jamieyuccas that he deserves one of those 100 doses at NIH is b/c he's a leader?

Just imagine if @SylviaBurwell or Kathleen @Sebelius had been exposed to #COVID19, refused to #stayhome & claimed "essential worker" status to get around #quarantine & then gone to #NIH to take one of its few 100 doses of $MRNA vaccine in the name of leadership?

But Azar today?

Political parties aside, would any woman get away with saying being a leader was refusing to #quarantine/#stayhome after being exposed to #COVID19, stepping in front of critical health workers to get one of the few doses of vaccine on hand & in the process put others at risk?
No.

320,000 Americans have died of #COVID19 under Alex Azar's watch at #HHS.

He has overseen this calamity in the U.S.

But after being exposed to COVID & refusing to follow #CDC advice to #stayhome & #quarantine, Azar will be at #NIH taking one of its few 100 doses of $MRNA vaccine

How's that equitable access to #COVID19 #vaccines going?

How's it going with Americans looking to its leaders for following #CDC's recommendations?

About 320,000 Americans now dead & over 18 million infected in the U.S.
gisanddata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashbo…

Leadership?

#CDC said people exposed to #COVID19 shouldn't get vaccinated until #quarantine period has ended to avoid exposing health care personnel/others.

Azar's wife tested positive but he's claiming "essential worker" status to get around quarantine.

Azar at #NIH today for $MRNA shot.

Again @NIHDirector, why are you allowing someone on to your campus who has been exposed to #COVID19 but is refusing to quarantine & will be taking one of the few 100 doses of $MRNA vaccine, stepping in front of @NIHClinicalCntr workers to get the shot & potentially risking others

And everyone can watch the event where Azar, who has refused to #quarantine after being exposed to #COVID19 & will be taking one of the few 100 doses of $MRNA vaccine at #NIH, here: c-span.org/video/?507498-…
hhs.gov/live/live-1/in…
nci.rev.vbrick.com/#/webcasts/cov…
facebook.com/nih.gov/

NIAID Dir. Anthony Fauci turns 80 Dec. 24. He's standing right now next to Alex Azar, whose wife tested positive just days ago. Azar has refused to #quarantine, claiming he's essential worker. Azar's taking 1 of few 100 doses at #NIH of $MRNA's vaccine, saying he's a "leader."

Reminder: Alex Azar is taking one of those 100 doses of $MRNA #COVID19 vaccine away from #NIH's "Greatest #Heroes" today.

Azar has refused to quarantine after his wife tested positive for COVID-19.

He's at NIH, potentially putting Fauci, Collins, others at risk.

.@NIHDirector Francis Collins: Both #COVID19 mRNA #vaccines rests on fundamental research conducted at #NIH.
$MRNA vaccine arose from close collaboration at NIH.

[funded initially under @BarackObama admin]

#NIH Fauci recalls being a fellow in training in summer of 1968 where he was introduced into extraordinary place he's at right now — National Institutes of Health — where so much conquering diseases/impact health of nation.
This is true of #COVID19.

$MRNA #vaccines

#Fauci: Particularly meaningful to me as a member of the #NIH for so many years to be receiving a vaccine that essentially had its origination & fundamental basic research that's conducted here at NIH by our scientists, grantees and contractors over the years.

$MRNA

#Fauci: What we're seeing now is the culmination of years of research, which have led to a phenomenon that has truly been unprecedented — that is to go from realization dealing with new pathogen to less 1 year later to #vaccines going into arms of people, including myself.
$MRNA

Again Azar has refused to #quarantine after his wife tested positive for #COVID19.

Azar is taking one of the few 100 doses of $MRNA vaccine away from @NIHClinicalCntr health workers.

And in his speech today, Azar essentially praised himself for Operation #WarpSpeed.

When I broke the story Jan. 21 that #NIH/#NIAID & $MRNA had started on a vaccine - same day 1st U.S. patient diagnosed with #COVID19 - Trump hadn't heard of #coronavirus, according to Trump.
spglobal.com/marketintellig…

#vaccines

Alex Azar, whose wife tested positive days ago for #COVID19, standing next to Fauci, who turns 80 Dec. 24.
Azar has refused to quarantine & he's at #NIH right now to take one of the few 100 doses of $MRNA vaccine, saying he's doing so b/c he's a "leader."

https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1341399220025221124

#NIH Fauci: I consider it an honor to be part of this process.

$MRNA #NIH #COVID19 #vaccines

Again, #CDC said people exposed to #COVID19 shouldn't get vaccinated until #quarantine period has ended to avoid exposing health care personnel/others.

Azar's wife tested positive but he's claiming "essential worker" status.

Azar's at #NIH now getting $MRNA vaccine.

Fauci: Getting #COVID19 vaccine b/c he's attending physician at @NIHClinicalCntr & sees patients.
But more important, as symbol to rest of country that he's got extreme confidence in safety/efficacy, wants encourage get vaccinated so can a veil of protection/end this #pandemic.

.@NIHDirector: It's one thing to hear me talk about it, it's another to have me roll up my sleeve & say I believe this is the way we're going to get through this; evidence has shown in rigorous scientific analysis safe/effective so rolling up my sleeves.
Bring it on.

#NIH $MRNA

.@CBSNews clip of #NIH Fauci getting Moderna's #COVID19 vaccine

https://twitter.com/CBSNews/status/1341408218753413122

$MRNA

.@cspan clip of @NIHDirector Francis Collins introducing #NIAID Director Anthony Fauci, just before they both were vaccinated with 1st dose of Moderna's 2-shot #COVID19 vaccine.

https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1341406762876940288

$MRNA #NIH #vaccines

Why did @NIHClinicalCntr administer a #COVID19 vaccine today to a person exposed to virus - Alex Azar - & hadn't completed #quarantine period, putting health care workers at risk, violating #CDC guidelines?

Azar stood next to #NIH Fauci today & didn't practice #socialdistancing

.@NIHDirector, did everyone in the room today agree to be near Alex Azar & were they all informed his wife recently tested positive for #COVID19 & that he hadn't completed #CDC's recommended #quarantine period & in fact, refused to quarantine, claiming he's an essential worker?

Why were #CDC's #COVID19 guidelines being broken at #NIH today by Alex Azar & others for a photo op?

$MRNA #vaccines

Americans are urged by US leaders to follow #CDC #COVID19 guidelines, but it's OK for those leaders to break them for a photo op?

And it's OK for Azar to break those guidelines so he can take 1 of few 100 doses away critical health workers b/c he's a "leader?"

How's that work?

I know #NIH would prefer no reporters ask tough questions on what is supposed to be a warm/fuzzy historic day for $MRNA.

But #CDC guidelines of #socialdistancing & administering #vaccines to people recently exposed to #COVID19 weren't being followed, in particular re: Alex Azar.

.@NIHDirector, why was violating #CDC guidelines & permitting Alex Azar - who wasn't quarantining this past week nor #socialdistancing today after his wife tested positive - to have 1 of the few 100 doses of $MRNA #COVID19 vaccine ahead of other @NIHClinicalCntr workers OK today?

#NIH spox to me: "NIH worked with occupational health to develop the protocols for this momentous occasion."

What occupational health? #CDC, NIH, Montgomery County, @NIHClinicalCntr?
And why is it OK for someone to develop their own protocols that don't follow CDC guidelines?

Again, I know #NIH prefers we ignore #CDC violations today & move on with reporting about their "momentous occasion" & pretend all was OK with Azar not quarantining after exposure, stepping in front of HC workers for $MRNA vaccine & 320,000 dead, 18M+ infected under Azar's watch.

Where's that "radical transparency" we keep being promised?

Why was it OK for U.S. leaders today to violate #CDC guidelines, potentially put people at risk, give a dose of a vaccine to someone unwilling to follow CDC guidelines ahead of critical health workers -- for a photo op?

ICYMI:

https://twitter.com/SPGMIHealthcare/status/1341279019212414977

#COVID19 #vaccines $MRNA #NIH

#CDC: Persons with a known #SARSCoV2 exposure/Community or outpatient setting: "Defer vaccination until quarantine period has ended to avoid exposing healthcare personnel or other persons during vaccination visit."

Alex Azar & #NIH violated those guidelines today for a photo op.

Hours later: #NIH claims Alex Azar followed #CDC quarantine guidance, despite strong evidence to the contrary. Azar was at public events the past several days, sometimes speaking without a mask, after his wife tested positive to #COVID19.
Azar claims "essential worker" status.

#NIH: "We’re disappointed that you are trying to pursue such a negative story on what is a very positive event."

Alex Azar & NIH violated #CDC's quarantine & vaccination guidelines today.

They're disappointed at me for raising questions about it b/c it's not warm & fuzzy news.

Azar was at #NIH today after his wife tested positive to #COVID19, violating #CDC quarantine/vaccination guidelines.
Azar took 1 of NIH's few 100 doses, which could have gone to a health care worker.

NIH is "disappointed" in me for asking about it?

Any disappointed HC workers?

#CDC: Persons with a known #SARSCoV2 exposure/Community or outpatient setting: "Defer vaccination until quarantine period has ended to avoid exposing healthcare personnel or other persons during vaccination visit."

Again, Alex Azar violated those guidelines today for a photo op.

#NIH: "We’re disappointed that you are trying to pursue such a negative story on what is a very positive event."

Anyone "disappointed" there's 323,000 Americans now dead from #COVID19, limited doses of #vaccines & Azar took 1 of NIH's 100 shots while violating #CDC guidelines?

#NIH wants Americans to focus on "momentous occasion" & "joyous event" & not the violations today by Alex Azar of #CDC quarantine & vaccination guidelines or that he took 1 of 100 precious doses of vaccine, which could have gone to a health care worker who follows CDC guidelines.

#NIH insists Alex Azar was #socialdistancing at today's event, that he followed #CDC quarantine guidelines after his wife tested positive for #COVID19.
NIH insists it was a "joyous event" for Azar rather than a health worker to take 1 of 100 vaccine doses.

https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1341399220025221124

#NIH is "disappointed" I asked about Alex Azar violating #CDC quarantine & vaccination guidelines because the agency was trying to send a "very important public health message" & wanted Americans to ignore those violations or that 1 less health care worker got a vaccination today

Is there any reason in the world whatsoever Azar - who notified HHS staff Thurs night his wife tested positive to #COVID19 - couldn't have waited until later to get vaccinated? What public health message did violating #CDC guidelines & taking vaccine meant for HC worker provide?

.@NIHDirector, what "very important public health message" does it send when #HHS #NIH officials decide they don't need to follow #CDC guidelines they tell other Americans to follow?

I'm not sorry #NIH that you're "disappointed" I asked about it when you wanted me to ignore it.

Since the time I started this thread this morning, 3000+ more Americans have died.
#NIH today wanted Americans to only focus on its "joyous" event & ignore Azar violated #CDC quarantine/vaccination guidelines, that he has overseen this calamity but got 1 of 100 #COVID19 vax doses

We know Azar's wife got test results Dec 17. We don't know when she was tested. But if #NIH is claiming Azar was outside the quarantine timeline today, is Azar admitting not even the wife of #HHS secretary can get timely #COVID19 test results?
Seriously, NIH? That's your claim?

Azar said he got 1 of 100 precious NIH $MRNA vaccine doses over a health worker b/c he's a "leader" & didn't have to quarantine after wife tested positive b/c he's "essential worker."

Wondering: What is the #NIH health care worker who didn't get the shot Azar got instead today?

BTW, #CDC now says 9,465,725 #COVID19 #vaccines doses distributed & 1,008,025 doses administered covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tra… $PFE $BNTX $MRNA

[And of course we know Azar got 1 of those at the #NIH Dec 22 - taking 1 for himself from 100 precious doses @NIHClinicalCntr had for staff]

And still waiting on #NIH spox to tell me if there was any reason in the world whatsoever why Alex Azar couldn't have waited to get #COVID19 shot rather than taking 1 of the few 100 doses @NIHClinicalCntr had for its staff, given his wife tested positive & he wasn't quarantining.

#NIH argues Azar was part of its public health message on #COVID19 #vaccines -- a white, wealthy, privileged man who refused to quarantine after exposed to COVID-19 stepping in front of health workers to get the shot.

Is that the message?

https://twitter.com/CBSThisMorning/status/1341728536575569922

#HHS @DeptofDefense #WarpSpeed briefing coming up soon at 3:30pmET
Will Azar say when his wife took the #COVID19 PCR test in which she tested positive Dec. 17 - 5 days before he was at #NIH @NIHClinicalCntr?
hhs.gov/live/live-1/in…
c-span.org/video/?507533-…

So, no Alex Azar at today's #WarpSpeed briefing.

He was at #NIH Dec. 22 -- 5 days after his wife tested positive to #COVID19. They are saying Azar has a "scheduling conflict" today - one day after getting $MRNA vaccine at @NIHClinicalCntr yesterday. 🤔

Audio really poor today for Slaoui on #WarpSpeed briefing.
He's on video remotely rather than in person with Perna today.

He notes UK variant & now South African variant.

$MRNA $PFE $BNTX $JNJ $AZN #COVID19 #vaccines

#WarpSpeed Slaoui still insisting no evidence 2 #COVID19 variants any more pathogenic

He notes $MRK treatment deal hhs.gov/about/news/202…

$MRNA $PFE $BNTX $JNJ $AZN #COVID19 #vaccines

Perna: This week 7800 deliveries as of Dec. 24 of 7.9M doses allocated.

4.67M doses allocated for next week, 2.67 $PFE, 2M $MRNA

15.5M total allocated.

On track 4.5M - 5M next week.

20M allocated by end of the year. [not the 40M promised. Recall, 300M Trump/Azar promised]

Slaoui: I think it's very important that unblind trial at once & offer placebo group #vaccines regardless of risk level.
Volunteers … should be rewarded for it rather than in a way punished.

[ Wow, his view completely different than #FDA ]

#COVID19 #vaccines

Slaoui argues unblinding #COVID19 #vaccines trials would incent more people to participate in studies if they know they will even placebo would get the vaccine as soon as EUA granted.

Lifespan limited for trial vaccine doses. So use them with placebo patients before they expire.

Q: Total allergic reactions $PFE #COVID19 vaccine.
Slaoui: Still at 6 cases [what #CDC reported at #ACIP Saturday]

Slaoui says he hasn't gotten an update today.

He says he's not aware of any with $MRNA.

From @DrNancyM_CDC

https://twitter.com/DrNancyM_CDC/status/1341846851486691332

#COVID19 #vaccines #CDC

Perna says reconstructed ancillary kits to ensure enough syringes/needles, etc. for when the #COVID19 #vaccines vials yield 6 doses rather than expected 5.

Q: Only 1M of 9M #COVID19 #vaccines doses administered so far?

Perna: Good pace. States have good plans. It's about access/execution.
They've set up & immunizing quite a bit of people
There's a lag in info as collected from 1000s sites.
Probably 72 – 96 hrs in lag info uptake

Q: 100M immunization by end of Feb/by Q2 anyone who wants get one depend on 3rd/4th vaccine?

Slaoui: 100M immunizations achieved w/ 200M doses #COVID19 #vaccines $PFE & $MRNA committed deliver by end of March.
Full immunization may depend on approval of $JNJ.

Sorry, fixing earlier tweets. The commitment was to have 20 million people fully vaccinated by end of December - 40 million doses. Now Slaoui is claiming 20 million "shots in arms" by the end of December, which would be 10 million people vaccinated.

The commitment Azar, Slaoui, Perna repeatedly made was to have 40M #COVID19 #vaccines doses available by end of December, enough to vaccinate 20M people.

Slaoui now claims the 2nd dose was always going to be in January [No, it wasn't what he said earlier]. Then he blames states.

Hey, Azar, Slaoui, Perna, remember this: Operation Warp Speed's goal is to produce and deliver 300 million doses of safe and effective vaccines with the initial doses available by January 2021
hhs.gov/coronavirus/ex…

Slaoui: We will be able to distribute enough vaccine to immunize 20M people in the US in Dec - that’s 40M doses - & 30M people, 60M doses in January, & 50M people, or a 100M doses in February. And end of February, we will have potentially immunized a 100M rev.com/blog/transcrip…

Today, Slaoui lied claiming commitment was just for 20M #COVID19 #vaccines doses by end of December, with 2nd shots coming sometime in January. That was never the commitment
Perna also lied, saying 20M "allocated" by end of Dec, last 5M delivered in January.
They blamed states 🤔

So Azar not here today to face the fact they've lied about number of #COVID19 #vaccines doses by end of Dec.
But Azar was at #NIH yesterday to get $MRNA #COVID19 vaccine - 5 days after his wife tested positive - stepping in front of @NIHClinicalCntr health workers to get the shot

So with there being less #COVID19 #vaccines doses than promised being sent to Americans, I'm asking again: Why did Alex Azar need to get vaccinated #NIH Dec. 22, particularly when #CDC guidelines say he shouldn't since he was exposed to someone who tested positive days earlier?

Do Azar/Slaoui/Perna think everyone is going to simply forget what they promised earlier about: 40M doses by end of Dec, enough to vaccinate 20M Americans?

Now, Trump's people want to blame states for Trump's "dysfunctional" #COVID19 plan?

spglobal.com/marketintellig… #gaslighting

The fact is, Trump, Azar, Slaoui & Perna have overpromised from the beginning - from their 300M #COVID19 #vaccines doses by end of Dec [campaign promise] to scaling down to 40M doses & now likely not even 20M delivered before end of year [Perna said expect 5M in early January].

Again, Slaoui: "We will be able to distribute enough vaccine to immunize 20 million people in the U.S. in December - that's 40 million doses."
rev.com/blog/transcrip…

Slaoui, Azar, Perna repeatedly made that promise. Repeatedly.
Now, they may not even deliver 20 million doses.

And Perna today called the 1 million #COVID19 #vaccines shots administered of nearly 10 million doses delivered a "good pace."

🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄

covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tra…

$PFE $BNTX $MRNA