Health officials stand by boosters after top FDA scientists announce retirements

Top federal health officials on Tuesday defended the Biden administration’s approach to coronavirus vaccine booster shots after two senior scientists in the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) vaccine division announced their intent to leave the agency.

Marion Gruber, director of the FDA’s Office of Vaccines Research & Review, and Phil Krause, the office’s deputy director, will retire later this fall, according to an FDA spokeswoman.

The two scientists are the most senior vaccine regulators at the agency and both helped review the COVID-19 vaccines. Gruber, who has spent 32 years at FDA, will leave at the end of October. Krause, who’s worked at FDA for more than a decade, will leave in November.

“Stay ahead:” When asked during a press conference whether he thinks the departures would undermine trust in FDA, White House coronavirus response coordinator Jeff Zients defended the booster announcement.

“That decision was made by and announced by the nation’s leading public health officials,” Zients said, adding that the announcement was made “to stay ahead of the virus” and to give states and pharmacies time to plan.

Context: The announcement comes as FDA is weighing the evidence for coronavirus vaccine booster doses as well as shots for children. It also comes amid fierce debate and criticism over whether the Biden administration is jumping ahead of the scientific review process in announcing boosters for everyone could be available by the week of Sept. 20.

Up next: An agency-wide memo from Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock said the agency has a plan in place “that will allow us to continue prioritizing science, while meeting timelines that are important to ensuring the end of this devastating pandemic.”