Caroline Humer

Honored that President-Elect @JoeBiden has asked me to continue in my role as Director of the National Institutes of Health. I will do my best to continue to lead this great agency, especially when NIH’s role in fighting this pandemic is so critical. https://t.co/KAqDUilkk3

My administration will move Heaven and Earth to: - Allow more people to get vaccinated - Create more places for them to get vaccinated - Mobilize more medical teams to get shots in arms - Increase vaccine supply and get it out the door as soon as possible

On Jan 20, I will join the new White House team on a short term basis as Senior Advisor for COVID response. These are relatively new plans. I will tweet separately about the great plans for some of the other things I have been working on while I do this.

Exclusive: International COVID-19 vaccine poll shows higher mistrust of Russia, China shots https://t.co/kfzRmTqgZO

Analysis: Biden's federal boost to vaccine rollout is critical to speeding inoculations https://t.co/qGvwGeclYz

Some U.S. nursing home residents face delays for COVID-19 vaccines despite extreme risk https://t.co/U61YGpXk8J

Some big U.S. pharmacies will not check ID before administering COVID-19 vaccines https://t.co/WCgORY5Sot

Scooplet: Health data co Target RWE is buying peer NoviSci in an Amgen-backed deal, as biopharma increasingly wants data to know how drugs are actually being used. Buzzy world of health tech/health data continues to buzz: https://t.co/5uu5nc6wca

.⁦@JoeBiden⁩ unveils his coronavirus stimulus package from Wilmington, Delaware. https://t.co/DWp9Qc4db3

Andy Slavitt, former acting head of CMS who worked on fixing botched https://t.co/n4caeZC4YM rollout, to join Biden's #Covid19 team ⁦@ASlavitt⁩ https://t.co/qHsn77WnBS

Q8. What do we know about the vaccine's effects on pregnancy and reproductive health? #AskReuters

NEW: More than 10 million Americans have now gotten their first dose of coronavirus vaccine, according to updated CDC data. 342,615 Americans have started vaccination since last update. Administration gap worsens. 29m doses distributed vs. 10.3m administered. https://t.co/Dlbws2sGix

.@Baba_Lilith The CDC indicates that people with autoimmune diseases can receive the vaccine although the vaccine trials did not include large numbers of autoimmune volunteers. For other recommendations, see https://t.co/xBQPMy6xhV #AskReuters https://t.co/x68mtlio6m

@CarolineHumer A final tricky variable is that people may continue to socially distance / mask relative to 2019 so this may also mean less people need to be vaccinated to get us there. #AskReuters /6

A7: To truly remove #COVID19 as a threat, the world has to control it. Organizations like @CEPIvaccines, @gavi, @gatesfoundation and others are working to make sure vaccination occurs in lower income countries #AskReuters

Q7. Can you discuss the importance of vaccine access, particularly in lower-income countries? #AskReuters https://t.co/HKctBC0nWh

@CarolineHumer Second, R0 is higher in certain sectors of the population than others which also generally means, fewer people might need to get vaccinated to get us to herd immunity #AskReuters /4

@CarolineHumer That said, we may get to herd immunity after vaccinating a smaller % of the population. First, previously infected people contribute to herd immunity which is relevant in many states (NY, NJ, Dakotas & others...) #AskReuters /3

@PandaPlayer7 Great question. We know that one vaccine has some efficacy, but we don't really know how much. The @FDA_Drug_Info is not recommending single dose approaches - and I agree. Talk to the team who gave you your vaccine and your specific reaction to advise. #askreuters