Biden taps former FDA head to lead COVID-19 vaccine response
President-elect Joe Biden today named former Food and Drug Administration commissioner David Kessler, M.D., as Chief Science Officer of COVID Response, a role that will assume the responsibilities of the current head of Operation Warp Speed, the Trump administration effort focused on the development and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.
Kessler led the FDA from 1990 to 1997 under President Bill Clinton.
In addition to leading vaccination efforts, Kessler also is expected to increase the emphasis on the development of treatments for COVID-19, including antivirals.
Related News Articles
Headline
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's COVID-19 data tracker shows an 18.1% test positivity rate for the week ending Aug. 10, the highest it has been…
Headline
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Aug. 13 issued an advisory alerting of an uptick of cases of parvovirus B19 across the U.S. Parvovirus B19 is a…
Headline
Adults age 65 and older are encouraged to receive an updated dosage of the COVID-19 vaccine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced April 25…
Headline
The Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines can cause myocarditis, but do not appear to cause infertility, Guillain-Barré syndrome, Bell’s palsy, thrombosis with…
Headline
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Mandy Cohen, M.D., Feb. 28 endorsed a recommendation by its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices…
Headline
Paxlovid may no longer be distributed with an emergency use label after March 8, the Food and Drug Administration announced. Providers may dispense unexpired…