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Plasma Authorization Raises Fears Of Politically-Influenced COVID-19 Vaccine Decisions, Compromised FDA

 
• By Sarah Karlin-Smith

US FDA Commissioner Hahn’s credibility is in question following an emergency use authorization for convalescent plasma, leading some former officials to push for new agency leadership. Hahn’s actions, combined with President Trump’s attack on FDA staff as being ‘deep state’ actors, may compromise the public trust in the agency’s work during COVID-19 and beyond, former FDA officials say.

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President Trump's deep state remarks may damage public confidence in FDA, COVID-19 vaccines, former agency leaders worry. • Source: Shuttersotck

President Donald Trump and senior government officials' communication around the emergency use authorization for convalescent plasma for COVID-19 is sowing new doubts that the US Food and Drug Administration will make a science-based decision on if, and when, to grant clearance to any COVID-19 vaccines.

The damage from the plasma rollout – where FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn and Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar joined Trump in hyping plasma with misleading data – could compromise public trust in COVID-19 vaccines and the agency for the longer term, even if that process is handled better, numerous former FDA

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