"US Health and Human Services Secretary Plans to Oust FDA Director"...Conflict Over 'Pre-Election Vaccine'

"FDA Director Raising Standards Amid Trump Approval Pressure Draws Ire"
US Health Secretary: "Never Forced Vaccine Release Before Election"

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] As reports have continued to emerge about escalating conflicts between the heads of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over the COVID-19 vaccine, Alex Azar, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, has directly denied these claims. U.S. media pointed out that tensions are intensifying among key health authorities over pressure from President Donald Trump to release a vaccine before the U.S. presidential election.

On the 22nd (local time), the U.S. political media outlet Politico reported that Secretary Azar had publicly revealed plans over the past few weeks to dismiss FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn and appoint a successor. Citing current and former senior U.S. government officials, Politico reported, "Secretary Azar discussed obtaining White House approval for Hahn's dismissal and even mentioned several candidates as potential successors," adding, "This is related to Commissioner Hahn raising approval standards despite President Trump's directive to approve the vaccine release before the election, effectively making pre-election release impossible."

Earlier, President Trump claimed during his election campaign that "a vaccine will be released soon," pledging to have a vaccine available within this month. According to CNN, the White House has unofficially pressured the FDA to expedite approval schedules for candidate drugs for vaccine release, and Commissioner Hahn, despite this pressure, raised vaccine approval standards, becoming a target of pro-Trump figures within the health authorities. The FDA recently strengthened vaccine approval criteria significantly by requiring Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and other COVID-19 vaccines currently in Phase 3 clinical trials to submit safety monitoring data of trial participants for two months after clinical results are announced.

Secretary Azar fully denied rumors of discord with Commissioner Hahn in an interview with CBS. Azar stated, "I speak with Commissioner Hahn every day and trust him very much," adding, "There has been no coercion to expedite the vaccine release schedule." He further emphasized, "The FDA decides whether to approve treatments and vaccines based on science, data, regulations, and laws, carried out by the FDA's top experts. I am someone who 100% supports such approval procedures."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.