Here is a thread by Andy Slavitt.If it’s a bad choice, that will be what this Administration will do.
I remember a few months ago listening to a Research Doctor who said that America could use its extensive network of college campus labs to increase America’s testing capacity. But, it went on deaf ears.
BREAKING: White House takes away FDA authority to regulate COVID tests. It’s August, de-regulating & politically meddling are not what FDA needs right now.
More soon. Follow if interested.
— Andy Slavitt @
(@ASlavitt) August 21, 2020
(@ASlavitt)
Early on, when the country had no tests and labs around the country were offering to make them, a move like this might have prevented the virus from spreading.
We could have contained it with massive mobilization. But we were cautious.
— Andy Slavitt @
(@ASlavitt) August 21, 2020
Imagine:
-tests designed for school entry & colleges. Rapid, low cost, not as sensitive.
-tests designed to find prevelance in a community. Low cost, saliva based, quicker turnaround.
-for symptomatic people. Highly accurate. 1-2 days max turnaround.https://t.co/4hBOysfkcA— Andy Slavitt @
(@ASlavitt) August 21, 2020
False positives? False negatives? We won’t know.
But it will be profit time for people with approved labs (you need a designation to qualify). Will it be enough to make a dent in the massive demand & turnaround time?
— Andy Slavitt @
(@ASlavitt) August 21, 2020
Perhaps the biggest harm is to our ability to trust the FDA can be kept free from political interference as a vaccine comes out.
— Andy Slavitt @
(@ASlavitt) August 21, 2020