NC top health official supports coronavirus vaccine development process

North Carolina’s top health official endorsed the steps being taken to develop and test potential novel coronavirus vaccines.

Dr. Mandy Cohen, head of the state Department of Health and Human Services, said Tuesday that she has heard from “career regulators” at the United States Food and Drug Administration about the safety and efficacy metrics that they’re going to use.

“I feel very comfortable, right now, as I hear about that process,” she said at a Tuesday news conference.

Her comments came the day after Cal Cunningham, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, said during a debate Monday night that he would be “hesitant” to take a vaccine meant to protect against COVID-19 if were developed by the end of the year.

During the debate, Cunningham said he is concerned about the politicization of the process and would “ask a lot of questions” about the vaccine.

“I think that’s incumbent on all of us right now with the way we’ve seen politics intervening in Washington,” he said, The News & Observer reported.

Incumbent U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis called Cunningham’s position irresponsible and said the statement “puts lives at risk.”

After the debate, Cunningham clarified his comments, saying he is worried that “even public health professionals have been influenced in this environment.” He said he wants to ensure the FDA “signs off with integrity, free of political influence.”

“If public health professionals sign off, then I will not hesitate and I would encourage others to do so,” he said, The N&O reported.

Polls show low public support for President Trump’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic. He has been touting the swift development of a vaccine, as he did during a July visit to a Morrisville company manufacturing a vaccine, The News & Observer reported.

Cohen said the pausing of AstraZeneca’s vaccine trial after a person in Great Britain became ill is an indication the process is working as it should.

“There’s still a lot more science to do, but we know that vaccines are going to be such an important tool to us combating this crisis, so I am pleased that the federal government has worked as hard as they can to move as fast as they can,” she said.

“I think we all need to watch for the data, let the regulators do their job at the FDA, and be ready to take the vaccine when it is safe and it is available for everyone to have it.”

Staff writer Brian Murphy contributed to this story.