Ex-FDA Head: Ouster Of Vaccine Chief “Sets Us Back”

The Hill reports:

Former Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said Sunday that the ouster of federal vaccine chief Richard Bright will “set us back” in combating the coronavirus pandemic.

“I know Rick Bright well … he was effective. He was a vaccine expert, so I was sorry to see him go,” Gottlieb said on CBS’ “Face the Nation” Sunday.

“People knew him. I think it was important to have continuity in that job. I think changing leadership in that position right now certainly is going to set us back. I was really sorry to see that happen.”

Gottlieb resigned from his FDA post last year to “spend more time with his family,” but some believe he was being pushed out over his actions on the then-raging vaping issue.

SCOTT GOTTLIEB: “I know Rick Bright well. …he was effective. He was a vaccine expert, so I was sorry to see him go. I think changing leadership in that position right now certainly is going to set us back. It’s hard to argue that that’s not going to have some impact…” pic.twitter.com/RXbBOf7165

— JM Rieger (@RiegerReport) April 26, 2020