Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
'Never Too Late': Trump's Vaccine Czar Supports Biden's 100-Day Mask Plea
Politico: Biden's 100-Day Mask Plan 'A Good Idea,' Trump's Vaccine Chief Says
The head of the Trump administration's efforts to speed up a coronavirus vaccine on Sunday endorsed President-elect Joe Biden's plan to ask Americans to wear masks for the first 100-days of his administration. "I think it's a good idea," Moncef Slaoui, the scientific head of Operation Warp Speed, said in an interview on CNN's "State of the Union." "It's never too late." (O'Brien, 12/6)
In other news about President-elect Joe Biden —
Reuters: Biden Transition, U.S. Coronavirus Vaccine Teams To Meet Amid Surge, Distribution Questions
The chief adviser for U.S. efforts to develop a coronavirus vaccine said on Sunday he planned to meet with President-elect Joe Biden’s team this week to discuss the program before the expected first round of vaccinations this month. Moncef Slaoui, chief adviser to the U.S. government’s Operation Warp Speed initiative, said he has not yet met with Biden, who last week criticized the Trump administration’s vaccine distribution plan. “We really look forward to it because actually things have been really very appropriately planned,” Slaoui said in an interview with CBS’ “Face the Nation.” (Chiacu, 12/6)
Politico: Biden's Criticism Of Vaccine Rollout 'Just Nonsense,' Azar Says
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar shot back at President-elect Joe Biden on Sunday after he criticized the Trump administration's plan for rolling out a coronavirus vaccine. In an interview on "Fox News Sunday," Azar defended the Trump administration's vaccine plans and said distribution could begin in a matter of days pending approval by the FDA. (O'Brien, 12/6)
Politico: Biden Says Inauguration Likely To Emulate DNC's Virtual Proceedings
President Donald Trump may soon be able to boast about the relative size of his inauguration crowd, albeit on a technicality, after President-elect Joe Biden said Friday his swearing-in will likely be a scaled-down affair due to the ongoing pandemic. Biden sketched out his plans for Jan. 20, saying they are likely to mirror the 2020 Democratic National Convention, which was conducted almost entirely remotely, rather than have participants descend on one central location. Biden said members of his transition team are in contact with those who helped organize the virtual convention, though many of the details are still in flux. (Niedzwiadek, 12/4)
