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White House secretary puts pressure on FDA director
Trump condemns on Twitter that “the FDA is a slow old turtle”
Discussions are under way on whether the US will approve the emergency use of Pfizer’s new coronavirus infection (Corona 19) (USA) vaccine on the 10th (local time) ./ Photo = Reuters.
It was reported that Mark Meados, head of the White House secretary in the United States White House, pressured Stephen Han, director of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), to resign if he did not give emergency approval. for a new vaccine against coronavirus infection (Corona 19) on the 11th (local time).
Media such as the Washington Post (WP) and CNN in the United States reported: “In a phone call with director Han that day, the director of Meadows told him to resign if he did not give an emergency approval for that day.” Earlier, it was reported that the Meadows boss summoned Han’s director to the White House on Day 1 and accused him of “not approving vaccines.”
The Meadows ultimatum was based on instructions from President Donald Trump, the Associated Press reported, citing senior administration officials. In a direct tweet this morning, President Trump publicly lobbied to approve the Pfizer vaccine as soon as possible, saying, “The FDA is a big, old, slow turtle.” President Trump said, “Let’s get a damn vaccine right now,” and said, “Chief Han should stop playing games and save lives.”
The WP said the FDA was initially scheduled to announce whether or not an emergency approval would be issued on the morning of the 12th, due to pressure from President Trump and Chief Meadows, but the schedule was adjusted to the 11th. An external advisor to the FDA recommended emergency approval to the FDA for the COVID-19 vaccine jointly developed by US pharmaceutical company Pfizer and German Bioentech through a meeting the day before.
The vaccine can be distributed once the FDA’s decision to approve emergency use is made. This does not mean that vaccination begins immediately. Subsequently, the advisory committee of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends vaccination, and when the CDC makes a final decision, vaccination begins.
President Trump pressured health authorities to announce the development of the vaccine before the presidential election. However, WP reported that he was known to be upset when the first emergency approval of the Pfizer vaccine came out in the UK and the world’s first vaccination began. The CNN broadcast also cited sources, saying that President Trump had been distraught when the vaccination was the first in the UK.
Hankyung.com reporter Kim Hana [email protected]
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