Sen. Durbin discusses COVID-19 vaccine safety with Operation Warp Speed chief

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) discussed the research and approval process for COVID-19 vaccine candidates with General Gustave Perna, chief operating officer for Operation Warp Speed, a public-private partnership designed to accelerate the development of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments,

Durbin urged Perna to maintain the integrity of any vaccine candidate’s safety and efficacy and not cut corners to quickly develop a vaccine. 

The phone conversation happened on the same day that U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Stephen Hahn apologized for overstating the benefits of treating COVID-19 patients with convalescent plasma. This followed an announcement by President Donald Trump on Aug. 24 that the FDA had decided to issue an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for convalescent plasma.

“When it comes to producing a vaccine that will protect us from COVID-19, we must assure the American people that the research and approval process is driven by scientific integrity, not political motivations or anti-science behavior,” Durbin said. “I appreciate General Perna’s commitment to making science-based decisions but continue to be deeply concerned by President Trump’s politicization and anti-science pronouncements.  His actions will not help build confidence for the American people or halt the spread of this virus.”

Through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), and the Department of Defense (DOD), the federal government has invested approximately $10 billion in funding for vaccine research, development, and production.