During HELP Committee Hearing, Rosen Questions Dr. Anthony Fauci on U.S. Response to COVID-19 Pandemic

View Senator Rosen’s Full Remarks Here.

 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, during a hearing of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (HELP), of which she is a member, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) questioned medical experts, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, on the U.S. response to the COVID-19 pandemic and how to safely reopen society, including workplaces and schools. During the hearing, Senator Rosen asked Dr. Fauci about the potential for preventive medication to treat COVID-19 before a vaccine is widely available.

“As I talk to Nevadans about safely reopening our economy, one question that frequently comes up is – “When are we going to have a vaccine?’ ” began Senator Rosen. “In Nevada, travel and tourism are the lifeblood of our economy, and the jobs associated with those industries can only fully come back if we know that it’s safe to travel and to visit our work at our hotels, casinos, restaurants, and attractions.”

“Ultimately, to make this happen we have to build confidence in our visitors that it’s safe. We need a vaccine, and that research is extremely important,” Senator Rosen continued. “However, understanding that this takes time to develop and ensure both safety and efficacy, I would like to hear more about what research is happening regarding preventive medication research that could be helpful in the timeframe before a vaccine, and especially before one is widely available.”

“Dr. Fauci, what research is currently happening to identify potential monoclonal antibody preventive treatments or other therapeutics? If the right antibody can be identified, could this be used as a preventive medication to block the COVID-19 virus from latching on to host cells—much like treatments for rheumatoid arthritis, severe asthma, and other diseases, and would preventive medication options like this help complement the effectiveness of a vaccine once one is available?” asked Senator Rosen. 

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