An ousted
top Health and Human Services official testified before Congress Thursday that the Trump administration's timeline for a coronavirus vaccine is likely too optimistic — and said there's currently "no plan" in place for mass production and distribution of one.
Hopes for a vaccine to be ready within 12-18 months assume "everything goes perfectly," Dr. Rick Bright told a House Energy and Commerce Committee subcommittee, adding, "We've never seen everything go perfectly."
In his testimony, Bright also said he warned the administration about shortfalls in protective equipment and faulted President Donald Trump and senior officials for minimizing the outbreak early on — a problem he said had deadly consequences.
“I believe Americans need to be told the truth," Bright said. "We did not forewarn people. We did not train people. We did not educate them on social distancing and wearing a mask as we should have in January and February. All those forewarnings, all those educational opportunities, for the American public, could have had an impact in further slowing this outbreak and saving more lives."