Thread by @DonnaYoungDC

This happening today: Confirmation of @XavierBecerra to lead #HHS.

Will @POTUS @JoeBiden soon thereafter identify his nominee to lead #FDA?

#pharma #biotech

https://twitter.com/DonnaYoungDC/status/1372320490904301572

Also today, #NIH Fauci, @CDCDirector Walensky & #FDA Peter Marks are back on Capitol Hill -- virtually -- today along with @DavidAKesslerMD to testify this time at @HELPCmteDems on #COVID19 starting at 10amET help.senate.gov/hearings/exami… #COVIDvaccinations #vaccines #CDC

The House @AppropsDems Commerce, Justice, Science & Related Agencies Subcommittee also examines #COVID19 outbreaks at federal prisons at 2pmET appropriations.house.gov/events/hearing… #MaskUp

Also, @POTUS @JoeBiden will deliver remarks at 3:15pmET on the state of #COVIDvaccinations




#COVID19 #vaccines #COVID19vaccines #MaskUp

Senate @HELPCmteDems hearing now underway w/ #NIH Fauci, @CDCDirector Walensky, #FDA Peter Marks & @DavidAKesslerMD
help.senate.gov/hearings/exami…

c-span.org/video/?509827-… #COVID19vaccines #COVIDvaccinations #COVID19 #vaccines

.@PattyMurray says the difference between how @POTUS @JoeBiden vs. Trump responded to #pandemic is "staggering."

Says Trump misled on mask-wearing, spread misinformation, was concerned about testing too many, left #COVID19vaccinations to states & claimed mission accomplished.

.@PattyMurray: When we were all safe from #COVID19, our work to recover will not be over. We have to rebuild our country stronger/fairer & that work needs to start with building a stronger & fairer #publichealth infrastructure.

#COVID19 #COVIDvaccinations #MaskUp #CDC #NIH #FDA

.@PattyMurray: We all want to make sure we learn from this moment in our history because we owe it to every American who has suffered or who is grieving after this year to make sure we never find ourselves here again.

#COVID19 #COVIDvaccinations #MaskUp #CDC #publichealth

.@SenatorBurr: America needs to reopen our schools, need to reopen our businesses & we need to open up to global commerce -- a much more challenging thing.

#COVID19 #COVIDvaccinations #MaskUp #CDC #publichealth

.@SenatorBurr insists "significant reform" is needed at #CDC.
"Your agency is responsible for communicating to the American people based on facts, how to return to some form of normal normalcy. But the guidance documents coming out of CDC have been 2 steps behind the data."

.@SenatorBurr: #CDC's going along mentality of the past on testing was arrogant & it was wrong.

[Robert Redfield was in charge then & reminder: Trump officials were writing/holding up the CDC's guidance documents].

#COVID19 #COVID19vaccines #MaskUp

Noting at today's @HELPCmteDems hearing, @SenatorBurr praised Stephen Hahn's regulatory approach of leaning on industry.
🤔

#COVID19 #COVID19vaccines #Maskup #CDC #FDA #NIH #publichealth

Meanwhile ...

https://twitter.com/MHRAgovuk/status/1372548828172316685

$AZN #COVID19 #COVID19vaccines #Maskup #CDC #FDA #NIH #publichealth

Did @SenatorBurr ever tell Trump officials last year "Not only will you be required to maintain the pace & urgency of our current response, but to begin to change the architecture of our #publichealth agencies" like he told Biden officials today?

#CDC #FDA #NIH #COVID19

Like at yesterday's hearing, #NIH Fauci reiterating it took decades of U.S. taxpayer-funded research that led to #COVID19vaccines. It didn't just start in January 2020.

[Trump had no idea NIH $MRNA launched work on a vaccine in Jan 2020 based on research funded by Obama admin]

Peter Marks notes #FDA recently reviewed $PFE data to allow undiluted frozen vials vaccine to be transported/stored at conventional temps for up to 2 weeks.
Will help ease burden of procuring ultracold freezers & help get vaccine to more places.

#COVID19vaccines #COVID19

Noting all of the Biden administration witnesses today are in-person at Senate @HELPCmteDems hearing rather than virtual, like yesterday at House @EnergyCommerce.

#FDA #CDC #NIH #publichealth #COVID19vaccines #COVID19 #COVIDvaccinations #vaccines #MaskUp

.@CDCDirector Walensky got to visit with her mother in DC since both are now fully vaccinated

https://twitter.com/CDCDirector/status/1372288656006914056

#CDC #FDA #NIH #publichealth #COVID19vaccines #COVID19 #COVIDvaccinations #vaccines #MaskUp

.@CDCDirector Walensky: #CDC is leading with science & will continue to be the #publichealth resource scientific resource for the American public and for our international partners.

#FDA #NIH #publichealth #COVID19vaccines #COVID19 #COVIDvaccinations #vaccines #MaskUp

#NIH Fauci: The challenge is to stay ahead of the variants.

cdc.gov/coronavirus/20…

#CDC #FDA #publichealth #COVID19vaccines #COVID19 #COVIDvaccinations #vaccines #MaskUp #B117 #B1351

.@CDCDirector Walensky reiterates that to combat #vaccinehesitancy & to build vaccine confidence, people need to hear from "trusted messengers."

#CDC #FDA #NIH #publichealth #COVID19vaccines #COVID19 #COVIDvaccinations #vaccines #MaskUp

.@DavidAKesslerMD notes 100 million shots in arms is a "remarkable" achievement.
covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tra…

#CDC #FDA #NIH #publichealth #COVID19vaccines #COVID19 #COVIDvaccinations #vaccines #MaskUp

#NIH Fauci again pushes back on questions of when U.S. will reach "herd immunity," saying with #COVID19, "we really do not know precisely for this particular virus what that is."

"Every day we get 2 or 3 million [vaccinated], we get closer and closer to where we want to be."

#FDA Peter Marks: mRNA platform seems to be very good for certain pathogens but it may not be good for others, just as the t vesicular stomatitis virus platform that was used for the #Ebola vaccine seems to be very good for certain pathogens but not for others."

#COVID19

.@CDCDirector Walensky: Herd immunity is an epidemiologic term & transmissibility is a moving target & with more variants, target may change.

Unclear now if kids need vaccination at same level as adults BUT she believes all kids should be vaccinated.

#COVID19 #CDC

We've reached the point in the hearing where Rand Paul tries to take on #NIH Anthony Fauci about infectious diseases expertise ...

#COVID19 #COVID19vaccines #COVIDvaccinations #CDC #FDA #MaskUp

#NIH Fauci to Rand Paul: "Here we go again with the theater. Let's get down to the facts."

#COVID19 #COVID19vaccines #COVIDvaccinations #CDC #FDA #MaskUp

Where's @PattyMurray on intervening here with respecting the witnesses today ...

Fauci: "Masks are not theater. They are protective."

#MaskUp #COVID19 #vaccines #COVIDvaccinations #COVID19vaccines #NIH #CDC #FDA

.@PattyMurray finally intervenes & asks Dr. Fauci to explain masks & variants.

#MaskUp #COVID19 #vaccines #COVIDvaccinations #COVID19vaccines #NIH #CDC #FDA

Fauci: We're not dealing with a static situation of the same virus.

cdc.gov/coronavirus/20…
#MaskUp #COVID19 #vaccines #COVIDvaccinations #COVID19vaccines #NIH #CDC #FDA

.@ChrisMurphyCT raises concerns about profits #pharma will make on #COVID19 vaccines & notes $PFE CFO suggested the company is going to "get more on price" after what he called the pandemic pricing environment when analysts projected could make future vaccine prices 3x-4x higher.

.@DavidAKesslerMD says Biden admin will try to improve on current situation where #pharma contracts for #COVID19vaccines are redacted & many details hidden from public.

#COVID19 #vaccines #drugprices

.@SenatorCollins peppers @CDCDirector Walensky about #ReopeningSchools.
Walensky explains #CDC guidelines based on studies that show mask-wearing compliance. Reiterates CDC looking at 6ft vs. 3ft for revising guidelines, but again, MA study based 100% mask-wearing compliance.

.@TimKaine in response to Rand Paul says wearing #masks is "such a minor thing to do to try to protect the hundreds of millions of Americans who are deathly afraid of getting #COVID19," a "reasonable fear."

#MaskUp #COVIDvaccinations #COVID19vaccines

Fauci notes #NIH study on #LongCOVID, or Post-Acute Sequelae of #SARSCoV2 infection. He notes Congress provided $1.15 billion for the research nih.gov/about-nih/who-… #MaskUp #COVIDvaccinations #COVID19vaccines #COVIDLong #CDC

GOP @BillCassidy says not enough attention is being paid to #vaccinehesitancy among people in the rural areas and Republicans & they need "trusted folks" to convince them.

#MaskUp #COVIDvaccinations #COVID19vaccines #CDC #NIH #FDA #COVID19

Fauci to Cassidy on 1 vs. 2 doses in previously infected w/ #COVID19: Since this is a virus for which we don't have previous experience, it's a bit risky to make a direct extrapolation to influenza or others.
Conceivable will match what seen w/ other viruses, but don't know yet.

.@DavidAKesslerMD says #COVID19vaccines booster "may be more likely than not."

"So we need to make sure that we have enough vaccines in the cupboard."

#COVIDvaccinations #COVID19 #vaccines #NIH #FDA #CDC

.@LisaMurkowski raises concerns about #CDC's "No sail" & "Conditional Sail," given Alaska depends heavily on tourism & cruise industry.

.@CDCDirector Walensky notes CDC works with Transportation Dept. on that issue. It's not solely a CDC decision.

#COVID19 #MaskUp

#NIH Fauci: I'm concerned that if we pull back in our enthusiasm for the fact that #vaccines are rolling out and things look good, if we pull back prematurely we may trigger another surge & that would really set us back.

So ... this

https://twitter.com/raghavnews/status/1372422805732564995

#MaskUp #COVID19

#NIH Fauci: There really is no model right now for herd immunity [with #COVID19]. It's purely an estimate.

#COVID19vaccines #COVIDvaccinations #MaskUp

Sen. Braun at Senate hearing right now is pushing "natural infection" & drugs over vaccines & trying to compare #COVID19 with #HIV, saying drugs worked there when still no HIV vaccine. 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄

THERE ARE EFFECTIVE #VACCINES FOR COVID-19!

#FDA Peter Marks to Braun: I think we'd like to avoid natural infections b/c of #LongCOVID.
So I probably prefer not to have people have those long term effects.
We'd like to prevent natural infection by providing immunity through vaccination.

#COVID19vaccines #COVIDvaccination

Fauci: We have 3 highly efficacious vaccines with a good safety profile.
It's not appropriate to be shopping around to see which one you could get because you're making a guess of which one is better.
All 3 are highly efficacious.

#COVID19vaccines #COVIDvaccination #COVID19

.@RogerMarshallMD: Dr Fauci, our nation is turning its lonely eyes to you for leadership.

Then he insists hearing wishy-washy voices from leaders on #ReopeningSchools.

Fauci says he's been saying must get kids back in school SAFELY.

#COVID19vaccines #COVIDvaccination #COVID19

Fauci says #CDC is trying to get schools to follow guidelines for #ReopeningSchools safely.

.@RogerMarshallMD says he was hoping to simply hear a "Yes" or "No" answer.

[Again, it's that "Safely" that people seem to want to ignore.]

#COVID19vaccines #MaskUp #COVID19

I was wondering when a Republican would bring up "the border" at this hearing & trying to link it to #COVID19.

@RogerMarshallMD just did.

#COVID19vaccines #MaskUp #COVIDvaccinations #CDC #NIH #FDA

.@CDCDirector Walensky acknowledges overcrowding at CBP sites & says need to de-densify. ORR sites are much improved vs. CBP sites for children.
#CDC working closely with ORR w/ getting those kids screened/tested & providing technical guidance to ensure safe as possible.

#NIH Fauci notes no benefit with monoclonal antibodies in advanced #COVID19 & must be used early. Dexamethasone good for advanced disease.
The real end game is to develop targeted antiviral drugs similar to #HIV & curative therapies for hep C.
Need to do better on therapy.

#NIH Fauci on #LongCOVID: It's very difficult to devise a therapeutic regimen when you don't know what the underlying pathogenic mechanism of the disease is & that's the real stumbling block here and why we are intensively studying these individuals.

#COVID19 #COVIDlong

.@SenTuberville also brings up the boarder.

#COVID19 #COVIDvaccinations #MaskUp

Fauci: We try to be consistent but we have to be consistent with the data as it exists.

[Then we get into the sports analogies]

Tuberville: The game plan changes, doesn't it.

Fauci: If you're playing against the zone or you're playing against a man-to-man, it's different.

Earlier, Tuberville, a former coach, referred to #NIH Fauci as "the Tom Brady of the COVID team."

#COVID19 #MaskUp

Meanwhile, over at the EMA on $AZN #COVID19 vaccine ...

https://twitter.com/kakape/status/1372579807213596676

More from EMA on $AZN #COVID19 vaccine

https://twitter.com/kakape/status/1372579950323204098

Here's the link to EMA presser on $AZN #COVID19 vaccine

Also, voting has been ongoing & near end for @XavierBecerra to be #HHS secretary.

@SenatorCollins voted in favor.

c-span.org/video/?509998-…

.@SenatorBurr at @HELPCmteDems right now insisting it should be easy to say right now when U.S. should be opening up fully.

[So, why didn't Burr predict in 2019 what would happen in 2020 when Trump was running things?]

#COVID19 #COVIDvaccinations #COVIDvaccines #NIH #CDC #FDA

Senate confirms @XavierBecerra as #HHS secretary in 50-49 vote.

Will @POTUS @JoeBiden soon reveal his #FDA nominee?

#pharma #biotech #COVID19 #drugprices #Medicare #Medicaid #ACA #Obamacare

Back at @HELPCmteDems, #FDA Peter Marks notes all 3 currently authorized #COVID19vaccines have plans or are already in clinical trials in children under 12 years.

Already trials in 12+ & hope to be able to vaccinate teens in the fall.

.@HELPCmteDems adjourned.

#NIH #FDA #CDC #COVID19 #COVID19vaccines #COVIDvaccinations #MaskUp

EMA on $AZN #COVID19 vaccine

https://twitter.com/EMA_News/status/1372588755085840388

Meanwhile, @PressSec Psaki says U.S. is "assessing" how it can "lend" doses to Mexico & Canada.
Not fully finalized yet. It's a complex. WH team working with companies.
7M "releasable" $AZN doses, 2.5M of those working to lend to Mexico & 1.5M to Canada

reuters.com/article/us-hea…

Asked if "any strings attached" with potentially lending $AZN #COVID19 vaccine doses to Mexico, @PressSec Psaki says "been expectations set outside of, unrelated to any vaccine doses or requests for them, that they would be partners in dealing with the crisis on the border."

.@PressSec Psaki says Biden admin "open to receiving" requests & having conversations with other countries besides Mexico & Canada about lending/sharing #COVID19vaccines doses, including $PFE $MRNA not just $AZN, but nothing more to add right now.

#COVID19 #vaccines

Here's that "masks" exchange between Rand Paul & #NIH Anthony Fauci from earlier at @HELPCmteDems hearing.

Fauci to Paul: "Here we go again with the theater. Let's get down to the facts."

https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1372573094494285829

#COVID19 #COVID19vaccines #MaskUp 😷🎭😷🎭😷🎭

Starting now: @POTUS @JoeBiden remarks about state of #COVIDvaccinations

#COVID19vaccines #COVID19 #vaccines #MaskUp

Tomorrow, 58 days into @POTUS @JoeBiden's administration, will reach pledge of 100 million shots in arms, well ahead of 100 days, Biden says.

covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tra…

#COVID19vaccines #COVID19 #vaccines #MaskUp

.@POTUS @JoeBiden says he's met #COVID19vaccines pledge by using the power of Defense Production Act to expedite critical materials/production, & worked with #pharma to speed delivery of millions more doses & brokered historic partnership w/ competing companies, $MRK & $JNJ.

.@POTUS @JoeBiden: These milestones are significant accomplishments. But we have much more to do. Much more to do.
And the #AmericanRescuePlan will help us do it.

#COVID19vaccines #COVID19 #vaccines #COVIDvaccinations

.@POTUS @JoeBiden says he will outline his next goal next week for putting shots in arms.

Now is not the time to let down our guard.

Things may be worse as new variants spread.

#COVID19vaccines #COVID19 #vaccines #COVIDvaccinations #MaskUp

.@POTUS @JoeBiden: "I need your help."

Says Americans should ensure they are getting family members, friends & neighbors vaccinated.

#COVID19vaccines #COVID19 #vaccines #COVIDvaccinations #MaskUp

.@POTUS @JoeBiden: If we keep our guard up, stick together & stick with the science, we can look forward to a #4thOfJuly that feels a bit more normal.

#COVID19vaccines #COVID19 #vaccines #COVIDvaccinations #MaskUp

.@POTUS @JoeBiden pleads with Americans to "please, please, don't let that happen you see happening in Europe" happen in the U.S.

So, again, this...

https://twitter.com/raghavnews/status/1372422805732564995

#COVID19vaccines #COVID19 #vaccines #COVIDvaccinations #MaskUp

Here's Fauci's response tonight on @CuomoPrimeTime about his exchange today with Rand Paul on wearing #masks after #COVIDvaccinations & variants.

https://twitter.com/CuomoPrimeTime/status/1372720519242473477

#MaskUp #COVID19vaccines #B117 #B1351

More from Fauci on Rand Paul & his "theater" claim.🎭

Fauci: He's dead wrong!

Fauci also says he wants to see U.S. data on $AZN before making any judgments.

"That will be imminent."

https://twitter.com/CBSThisMorning/status/1372873888988794884

#MaskUp 😷 #COVID19 #COVID19vaccines