The pandemic, by definition, is as much a scientific challenge as a social one. The worldwide response to it has largely been led by political leaders, following scientists’ advice. However, in these highly turbulent and divisive times, politics has too often dictated the course to science. In the US, the Trump administration was often criticized for ignoring science, but the Biden administration can also be faulted on the same lines – especially in its enthusiastic push for the booster dose notwithstanding expert advice.

Right in August, President Biden had announced plans to offer the third dose of the coronavirus vaccine to all. When the FDA was yet to process the data, the administration had even hinted that booster campaign would begin in September. Acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock should have called for caution; instead she supported the idea, prompting two of the top FDA regulators to quit in protest.

Eventually, Pfizer submitted data from the trials, and the FDA’s panel of independent experts advised boosters not for all but only for those above 65 years of age, 50+ with certain health conditions and those with jobs that put them at higher risk. Fine. The administration climbed down a bit. When the matter came before the CDC, its panel of experts favored boosters only for the first two of these three categories. Why, then, did CDC Director Dr Rochelle Walensky overruled them and supported the FDA line of three categories?

Dr Woodcock and Dr Walensky should be guiding the administration to science-based decision-making. Instead, they are led by the administration, to politics-based decision-making.

The booster case is only an example, but it shows how the heads of the two key agencies see their task. The fact that one of them is not a permanent hire but a temporary place-holder and nine months later the administration has not named anyone to head the FDA despite the epic health crisis may indicate how the administration plans to combat the virus.

How different is this from Trump’s rant against the FDA for not supporting his promise of delivering the vaccine by the Election Day?

Also read:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/25/opinion/sunday/covid-booster-shots-fda-cdc.html

https://www.politico.com/news/2021/09/20/biden-vaccine-booster-supply-513134

https://theconversation.com/tense-decision-making-as-cdc-joins-fda-in-recommending-pfizer-booster-shot-for-65-and-up-people-at-high-risk-and-those-with-occupational-exposure-to-covid-19-168703

https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/p0924-booster-recommendations-.html

Overview:

https://www.vox.com/2021/7/6/22554198/political-polarization-vaccine-covid-19-coronavirus