The main purpose of the meeting was the examination of the failures of Emergent BioSolutions’ facility in Baltimore to produce AstraZeneca and Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccines simultaneously. The meeting’s participants included Emergent President and CEO Robert Kramer, the Chair of Subcommittee on Coronavirus James Clyburn, the Ranking Member of Subcommittee on Coronavirus Steve Scalise, of Emergent BioSolutions Inc. founder and Executive Chair Faud El-Hibri, and multiple representatives of districts.
Along with the inability of Emergent BioSolutions to produce developed vaccines that caused the delay of people’s vaccination, other agenda items refer to the company’s destruction of millions of the coronavirus vaccines due to its inadequate contamination control strategy, the company’s excessive executive compensation and stock sales, the origins of a federal contract, the number of vaccines already delivered to date, and the significance of intellectual property protections (“COVID-19 vaccine production facility failures,” 2021). The meeting was presented on May 19, 2021, with the House Coronavirus Crisis Select Subcommittee as a host organization. It began with a speech of Clyburn who highlighted the purpose of the meeting and its agenda. Some speakers were in the room, while others were connected through a video call. All evidence was recorded, and all materials that supported the speakers’ words were presented as well.
General Background and the Committee’s Description
It goes without saying that the pandemic has already affected millions of people all over the world. Front-line workers, including doctors, nurses, social workers, volunteers, and scientists, are making all efforts in order to reduce the mortality and morbidity connected with the coronavirus. However, there are people who want to profit from this global issue and put people’s lives at risk violating regulations and laws (“COVID-19 vaccine production facility failures,” 2021). That is why, on April 23, 2020, the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis was established by the House of Representatives (Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, n.d.). In general, this organization is currently responsible for:
- The examination of the effectiveness and transparency of relief programs and the taxpayer funds’ use aimed to manage the coronavirus crisis;
- Reporting of fraud, waste, abuse, profiteering, price gouging, and other abusive practices connected with the crisis;
- The protection of witnesses and whistleblowers who provide information concerning improper activities;
- The examination of the efficiency of the coronavirus-related laws’ implementation, preparedness for response, and the impact of the pandemic on society;
- The cooperation with executive authorities for efficient response.
Specific Topic
The specific topic under discussion was the failure to produce two vaccines by Emergent BioSolutions simultaneously and the destruction of several million doses due to contamination. According to Emergent President and CEO Robert Kramer, this situation happened due to staff shortages, limited manufacturing capabilities, limited timeframe, and high volumes of production of two vaccines simultaneously that may be regarded as unprecedented. According to the committee, the contamination of vaccines was caused by the company’s inadequate contamination control strategies, demand chain facilities, staff training, and protocols. In addition, the destruction of vaccines and delays related to their production put people’s lives at substantial risk. At the same time, the committee aimed to investigate and understand this situation asking how many doses of every vaccine were destroyed and how many doses were released and sent locally and internationally.
Key Stakeholder Positions
In general, the members of the committee were thankful for Emergent BioSolutions’ representatives who participated at the meeting and clarified the whole situation connected with vaccines’ production failures and contamination. Nevertheless, it characterized failures as unacceptable it aimed to clarify the incident to find the most appropriate solution. In turn, Emergent BioSolutions stated that it was fully responsible for these failures and understood their dangerous consequences for people’s lives. Moreover, the founder of the company informed that all internal responsive measured had been already taken for the minimization of the incident’s outcomes.
Key Interactions
Key interactions may be defined as the following:
- Discussion of the importance of intellectual property protection by the committee’s ranking member;
- Discussion of the importance of a medical approach to the coronavirus instead of a political one;
- Investigation of Emergent BioSolutions’ failure to produce vaccines and their cross-contamination, contracts, audits, executive, remuneration, and funding through questions posed mostly by districts’ representatives to the company’s executives.
Meeting’s Outcomes in Relation to The Failures of Manufacture
In general, the committee’s Chair stated that the investigation of Emergent BioSolutions’ situation is not finished, and other meetings would be necessary to understand the scope of the company’s error and how it could be eliminated. In addition, the committee would focus on shortcomings to ensure success in the future. At the same time, Emergent BioSolutions was asked to consider doing its job better in staff and facilities and recognizing inspections by FDA, auditors, and partners. Thus, in order to regain the public’s trust, the company should return wasted funds including money spent on destroyed vaccines, tests to check their safety, and delays that could affect someone’s health and life.
References
COVID-19 vaccine production facility failures. (2021).
Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis. (n.d.). About.