Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Former FDA Head David Kessler Tapped To Lead Biden's Vaccine Program
The New York Times: Biden Picks Former F.D.A. Chief To Lead Federal Vaccine Efforts
President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. has chosen Dr. David Kessler to help lead Operation Warp Speed, the program to accelerate development of Covid-19 vaccines and treatments, according to transition officials. Dr. Kessler, a pediatrician and lawyer who headed the Food and Drug Administration during the presidencies of George Bush and Bill Clinton, has been a key adviser to Mr. Biden on Covid-19 policy and is co-chair of the transition team’s Covid-19 task force. (Kaplan, 1/15)
AP: Biden Taps Former FDA Chief Kessler To Lead Vaccine Science
Dr. David Kessler, who will have the title of chief science officer of COVID response, headed the Food and Drug Administration in the 1990s under presidents of both political parties. He has been acting as a top pandemic adviser to Biden and his appointment was announced Friday by the presidential transition office. Kessler will work out of the federal Department of Health and Human Services, assuming responsibility for the scientific side of Operation Warp Speed, an effort launched under the Trump administration to rapidly develop vaccines and treatments. The drive has already produced two highly effective vaccines, and more are on the way. (Alonso-Zaldivar and Perrone, 1/15)
CNN: Andy Slavitt, Former Acting Head Of CMS Who Worked On Fixing Botched Healthcare.Gov Rollout, To Join Biden's Covid Team
Andy Slavitt, the former acting chief of Medicare and Medicaid under the Obama administration, is expected to join President-elect Joe Biden's Covid-19 team in a senior advisory role, CNN has learned. Slavitt's role is expected to be temporary, sources said, as the incoming Biden administration is days away from inheriting the daunting task of getting the spread of Covid under control and quickly vaccinating the country. The expected hire underscores the all-hands-on-deck approach the Biden team appears to be taking when it comes to the coronavirus, as it looks to meet its goal of administering 100 million vaccine shots during Biden's first 100 days in office. (Lee and Dean, 1/14)
In related news —
Reuters: Biden To Unveil Coronavirus Vaccine Distribution Plan As Cases Soar
President-elect Joe Biden will on Friday outline his plan to ramp up vaccinations against COVID-19 as he prepares to take office amid soaring infection rates and an early rollout by the Trump administration he called “a dismal failure.” Biden has promised to take more serious action to curb the virus than his predecessor, President Donald Trump, and get 100 million vaccine shots into the arms of Americans during his first 100 days in office. (Hunnicutt, 1/15)
The Hill: Biden Plans For $20 Billion Mass Vaccination Campaign
President-elect Joe Biden will unveil a $415 billion plan to fight the coronavirus Thursday, including $20 billion for vaccines, drawing a sharp contrast to the fragmented approach from the Trump administration. Biden will unveil the package in an address Thursday evening, part of a two-day rollout of his virus response strategy. (Weixel, 1/14)
CNN: States Skeptical Of Biden's Covid-19 Vaccine Plan As They Await The Missing Details
State officials are skeptical that President-elect Joe Biden can meet his goal of 100 million coronavirus shots in his first 100 days, with a week to go before his start date and a slew of unanswered questions still swirling around his plan. Multiple state officials and sources familiar with the Biden transition team's outreach told CNN in recent interviews that they are unclear on major details of the Biden team's plans -- including those for mass vaccination sites, vaccine supply issues and funding for local governments. (Lee, Murray and Holmes, 1/14)
Also —
The Hill: Hotels Offer Properties As Vaccine Administration Sites To Biden Team
The leading hotel trade group is offering properties to President-elect Joe Biden's transition team for use as COVID-19 vaccine administration sites across the country. The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) said in a Thursday letter to Biden’s incoming coronavirus coordinator, Jeffrey Zients, that its members are uniquely positioned to help with vaccine rollout during the next phases of distribution. (Gangitano, 1/14)
