Press Releases
Dingell Presses Dr. Fauci, Trump Admin Health Officials on COVID-19 Vaccine Readiness and Safety
Washington,
June 23, 2020
WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI) participated in a virtual hearing on the Trump Administration’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic with Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases at National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Dr. Stephen M. Hahn, Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Dingell highlighted the need for a national plan on COVID-19 vaccine development and safety. According to Dr. Fauci and other world leading health experts, a COVID-19 vaccine is expected to be ready by the end of 2020 or early 2021. However, health experts have also warned it is not inevitable that these early vaccine candidates will prove effective given the sped up FDA approval process. One of the vaccine candidates, which is working with NIH, has announced that their Phase III clinical trial will enroll 30,000 patients. Another vaccine candidate company, which is working with Operation Warp Speed, has said it will enroll just 8,000 patients. These are much lower than historical vaccine trials, which have enrolled 60,000 to 70,000 patients in the past. “Vaccine development and testing should follow the rigorous and science-based guidance laid out by the FDA,” said Dingell. “We must guarantee that any vaccine is safe, effective and available to all Americans. That begins with the FDA and the Trump Administration remaining committed to the principles of science, public safety, and a data driven approach.” Earlier this year, Dingell voted for the CARES Act which provided $80 million to FDA for efforts including countermeasure development and advanced manufacturing, and $945 million to the NIH, including $706 million to the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) to support vaccine and infectious disease research. Dingell also supported the House passed HEROES Act, which would improve the medical supply chain, enhance the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) capabilities, and strengthen data collection and reporting related to COVID-19. Video of Dingell during the hearing is available here. ### |