US still has no coronavirus plan, whistle-blower Rick Bright says, warning that Americans are at risk
- Problems include lack of protective gear for health workers and inadequate supply chains for drugs and vaccines, ousted official tells lawmakers
- Trump and health secretary Alex Azar dismiss Bright’s comments, calling him ‘disgruntled employee’ and choir member who thinks he’s a ‘soloist’
Despite White House claims, the US still lacks a comprehensive battle plan against the coronavirus in critical areas including masks, testing, treatments and vaccines, whistle-blower Rick Bright warned on Thursday in testimony before a House committee.
The nation could face “the darkest winter in modern history” if the virus rebounds, the government vaccine scientist told lawmakers. Bright’s appearance came after his ousting last month as head of a Health and Human Services biodefence agency, an action he alleges was retaliation by the Trump administration.
“We need still a comprehensive plan, and everyone across the government and everyone in America needs to know what that plan is, and what role they play,” he told the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
“There are critical steps that we need to do to prepare … we do not still have enough personal protective equipment to manage our health care workers …
“We still do not have the supply chains ramped up for the drugs and vaccines, and we still don’t have plans in place for how we distribute those drugs and vaccines. We still do not have a comprehensive testing strategy.”
At the White House, President Donald Trump said Bright looked like an “angry, disgruntled employee”, and Bright’s boss, HHS Secretary Alex Azar, said: “Everything he is complaining about was achieved.”
“So this is like somebody who was in a choir and is now trying to say he was a soloist back then,” Azar added.