I was thrilled to roll up my sleeve and get the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine today at the NIH Clinical Center. As NIH Director, I’ve followed closely the development of these first vaccines, and I know they have been rigorously tested and found to be safe and effective. I encourage everyone to accept the vaccines when offered to you. It’s our best chance to turn the tide on the pandemic. Also receiving the vaccine today were Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, Anthony Fauci, Director of NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; Colleen McGowan, Director of NIH’s Office of Research Services; and six frontline healthcare workers at the NIH Clinical Center. Credit: NIH
What a privilege it was to welcome President Donald Trump to NIH on March 3, 2020 for a tour of the Dale and Betty Bumpers Vaccine Research Center (VRC), which is overseen by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). Research is underway in the VRC to develop a safe and effective vaccine for the novel coronavirus. Here, NIAID Director Tony Fauci (center) discusses vaccine research with the President. To my right is Barney Graham, the VRC’s deputy director. To my left are John Mascola, VRC director; Alex Azar, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services; President Trump; and Kizzmekia Corbett, a VRC research fellow who is working on developing a vaccine for the novel coronavirus. Credit: NIH
On June 26, 2019, NIH hosted the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Global-Domestic HIV Meeting at the Natcher Conference Center. It was an honor to be joined by HHS Secretary Alex Azar (right), shown here speaking beforehand with me and Tony Fauci (left), director of NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The Secretary provided opening remarks on the President’s initiative Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America. The NIH meeting assembled leaders in the field to discuss the successes and challenges in ending the HIV epidemic in America and abroad. Credit: HHS
Along with (left to right) Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use Elinore McCance-Katz, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, and Assistant Secretary for Health Brett Giroir; I was pleased to take part in a news conference on April 18, 2019 to announce the awardees for our HEALing Communities Study. The study will aim to reduce opioid overdose deaths dramatically in some of our nation’s hardest-hit communities. Credit: HHS
A look behind the scenes at the #PainMonth18 Twitter Chat. I’m sitting with Alex Azar, secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), and we’re watching a brief video. The twitter chat took place on September 18 in Washington, D.C. in recognition of Pain Awareness Month. Credit: HHS
