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=====Coronavirus vaccine=====
=====Coronavirus vaccine=====
Azar argued that the pharmaceutical industry is best poised to discover, manufacture, and market a vaccine for coronavirus. When asked about the cost of vaccines, Azar, the former pharmaceutical industry lobbyist,<ref name=whois/><ref name=investigation/> responded that the price may be high, but that this will ultimately deliver an important vaccine, even if many Americans cannot afford it.<ref>https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-administration-says-coronavirus-vaccine-may-not-be-affordable-2020-2</ref>
Azar argued that the pharmaceutical industry is best poised to discover, manufacture, and market a vaccine for coronavirus. When asked about the cost of vaccines, Azar responded that the price may be high, but that this will ultimately deliver an important vaccine, even if many Americans cannot afford it.<ref>https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-administration-says-coronavirus-vaccine-may-not-be-affordable-2020-2</ref>


==Personal life==
==Personal life==

Revision as of 19:12, 29 February 2020

Alex Azar
24th United States Secretary of Health and Human Services
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 29, 2018
PresidentDonald Trump
DeputyEric Hargan
Preceded byTom Price
United States Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services
In office
July 22, 2005 – February 4, 2007
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Preceded byClaude Allen
Succeeded byTevi Troy
General Counsel of the United States Department of Health and Human Services
In office
August 8, 2001 – July 22, 2005
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Preceded byHarriet S. Rabb
Succeeded byDaniel Meron
Personal details
Born
Alex Michael Azar II

(1967-06-17) June 17, 1967 (age 57)
Johnstown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseJennifer Azar
Children2
EducationDartmouth College (BA)
Yale University (JD)

Alex Michael Azar II (/ˈeɪzər/ born June 17, 1967) is an American attorney, politician, pharmaceutical lobbyist, and former drug company executive who serves as the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, having been Deputy Secretary from 2005 to 2007. He was nominated by President Donald Trump on November 13, 2017, and confirmed by the Senate on January 24, 2018.[2][3]

From 2012 to 2017, Azar was President of the U.S. division of Eli Lilly and Company, a major pharmaceutical drug company, and was a member of the board of directors of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, a pharmaceutical lobby.

Early life

Azar was born on June 17, 1967, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, the son of Lynda (Zarisky) and Alex Michael Azar .[4][5] His father is of Lebanese Orthodox Christian descent.[6] His father, also named Alex Azar, is a retired ophthalmologist who practiced ophthalmology in Salisbury, Maryland, for more than 30 years and taught at Johns Hopkins Hospital. His grandfather emigrated from Lebanon in the early 20th century.[7]

Azar attended Parkside High School in Salisbury, Maryland, from 1981 to 1985. He received a B.A. degree summa cum laude with highest honors in government and economics from Dartmouth College in 1988. He belonged to the Kappa Kappa Kappa fraternity. He earned a J.D. degree at the Yale Law School in 1991, where he served as a member of the executive committee of the Yale Law Journal.[8][9]

Early career

Law career

Azar with Ken Starr and Brett Kavanaugh in the 1990s

After law school, from 1991 to 1992, Azar served as a law clerk for Judge Alex Kozinski of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Azar left after six weeks, and was replaced in Kozinski's chambers by Brett Kavanaugh.[10] Azar subsequently clerked for the remainder of the term for Judge J. Michael Luttig of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. From 1992 to 1993, he served as a law clerk for Associate Justice Antonin Scalia of the United States Supreme Court.[7](better [citation needed])

From 1994 to 1996, he served as an Associate Independent Counsel for Ken Starr in the United States Office of the Independent Counsel, where he worked on the first two years of the investigation into the Whitewater controversy.[11][12] At the time of Azar's appointment, he was working as an associate in Starr's law firm.[11]

Between 1996 and 2001, Azar worked for Wiley Rein, a Washington, D.C., law firm, where he achieved partner status.[13]

Health and Human Services

Official Deputy Secretary portrait

On August 3, 2001, Azar was confirmed to be the General Counsel of the United States Department of Health and Human Services.[14][15] George W. Bush’s first HHS Secretary, Tommy Thompson, said Azar played an important role in responding to the 2001 anthrax attacks, making sure there was a vaccine ready for smallpox, and dealing with outbreaks of SARS and influenza.[7] On July 22, 2005, Azar was confirmed as the Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services.[16][17] He was twice confirmed unanimously by the United States Senate.

Working under Secretary Mike Leavitt, Deputy Azar supervised the operation of HHS, which would grow to annual budget of over $1 trillion by 2017 when he was appointed Secretary. Azar led the development and approval of HHS regulations, led U.S. government efforts to encourage worldwide pharmaceutical and medical device innovation, and was in charge of the HHS response to an initiative implemented by President George W. Bush to improve government performance.[7]

Azar resigned in January 2007.[18]

Eli Lilly & Co.

In June 2007, Azar was hired by Eli Lilly and Company chief executive officer Sidney Taurel to be the company's top lobbyist and spokesman as its Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Communications.[7][19] Azar left the position after the 2008 United States presidential election was won by Democratic Party candidate Barack Obama and the corporation wanted to replace Azar, a Republican,[7] with a Democrat in that role.[citation needed]

In April 2009, Azar became Vice President of Lilly's U.S. Managed Healthcare Services organization and its Puerto Rico affiliate.[20] In 2009, the company paid $1.415 billion to settle criminal charges regarding its promotion of antipsychotic drug Zyprexa (olanzapine) for off-label uses between 1999 and 2005.[19]

Effective January 1, 2012, Azar became President of Lilly USA, LLC, the largest division of Eli Lilly and Company, and was responsible for the company's entire operations in the United States.[20] Prices for drugs rose substantially under Azar's leadership.[21] In connection with the position, Azar served on the board of directors of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, a pharmaceutical lobby.[22]

In January 2017, Azar resigned from Eli Lilly "to pursue other career opportunities" as a result of a company reorganization.[23] He also resigned from the board of directors of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization.

Secretary of Health and Human Services

Azar and his family (with President Trump and Vice President Pence) shortly after being sworn in as Secretary of Health and Human Services

Nomination

On November 13, 2017, President Trump announced via Twitter that he would nominate Azar to be the next Secretary of Health and Human Services.[22][24][25] Many health care advocates raised concerns about the nomination, citing Azar's track record of raising drug prices and his opposition to Obamacare; his preferences, that is, for a "free market" to meet all Americans' health care needs.[26] Critics noted that Azar approved a doubling in the of price of insulin while CEO of Eli Lilly.[27] In spite of objections, his nomination was relatively smooth. Azar was confirmed on January 24, 2018, with a vote of 55–43,[28] with most Democrats opposed. Voting against him, Oregon Senator Ron Wyden, ranking member on the Senate Finance Committee, said that while Azar was at Eli Lilly, he "...never, not one time, signed off on a decrease in the price of a drug.[29]

Tenure

He was sworn in by Vice President Pence on January 29, 2018.[30]

Healthcare policy

Affordable Care Act

Azar has been a critic of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and predicted in 2017, "There will be a piece of legislation passes this year that is called the repeal of Obamacare. I don't know what's going to be in the substance of it, but there will be a piece of legislation that says that."[24] Also regarding the ACA, Azar said the Department of Health and Human Services has latitude to "make it work a little better".[21]

Abortion

Azar opposes abortion. In a written response to Senator Patty Murray regarding future HHS policy, he said, "The mission of HHS is to enhance the health and well-being of all Americans, and this includes the unborn."[31]

Regulations

According to The New York Times, Azar differed with his predecessor, scandal-plagued Tom Price, in terms of their approach to regulations. Writing in May 2018, The Times said, "in a sharp break from his predecessor — and from most Trump cabinet secretaries — he seems to be relishing the chance to write new regulations, rather than just crossing out Obama-era ones."[32]

Coronavirus

Outbreak

On January 28, 2020, Azar said Trump administration had no plan to declare a public health emergency as the Wuhan coronavirus spread in China. He said the risk to Americans is minimal, though admitting that in almost 30 states authorities were monitoring potential cases, continuing. "I won't hesitate at all to invoke any authorities I need to, to ensure we’re taking all steps to protect the American people, but I’ll do it when it’s appropriate." Florida's Senator Rick Scott and Representative Vern Buchanan as well as other Republicans demanded the declaration of a public health emergency as a means of budgeting necessary federal funding to deal with the potential pandemic. At the time, Azar said, there were just five confirmed cases in the U.S., with no known person-to-person transmission, and that every confirmed victim had traveled to Wuhan, China, the outbreak's origin. "This is potentially a very serious public health threat, but at this time Americans should not worry about their own safety," according to Azar. At that point, the disease had killed at least 106 people in China, with more than 4,500 cases confirmed.[33] On February 27, Democratic Representative Jimmy Gomez of California revealed that he had been contacted by a whistleblower from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) who had been dispatched to deal with arrivals of travelers exposed to the virus. There were allegations made that those sent from the HHS to California quarantine sites lacked both sufficient protective clothing and the training necessary to prepare them to deal with the contagion, though they were working alongside CDC personnel who had adequate protective gear. They were in danger of becoming carriers who could bring the disease back to the HHS facilities.[34] The whistleblower also said that professionals raising concerns about the unsafe practices were subjects of retaliation.[34] Azar responded to the issues raised by Gomez by saying, "Urgency does not compensate for violating isolation and quarantine protocols." "I'd want to know the full facts and would take appropriate remedial measures."[34][35] Azar insisted that careful protocols were being observed by all CDC employees.[34] United States Senate Finance Committee ranking member Wyden also directly questioned Azar via a February 28 demand letter regarding the circumstances of why the HHS's Administration for Children and Families employees were involuntarily dispatched to California to meet with the quarantined travelers, despite lacking expertise in the field and proper information, equipment and training, and then were not cleared to assure they hadn't become carriers of the disease before they were returned to their home stations. Wyden gave a deadline of March 6, 2020, for receipt of a response.[36]

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

As Secretary of Health and Human Services, Azar is in charge of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a key institution in charge of containing contagious diseases. Seventy-three possible cases were being monitored in the U.S. Simultaneously, the CDC had ramped up screenings of travelers coming in to the U.S.for possible cases of the coronavirus at 20 airports. Azar said it might be possible to ban any travelers arriving from China, and all options had to be considered. "Diseases are not terribly good at respecting borders," he continued.

Azar requested that the Chinese government allow a CDC expert team into the People's Republic of China (PRC), either directly or alongside World Health Organization (WHO), to help Chinese authorities learn more about the virus. Referring to the SARS epidemic seventeen years earlier, Azar said, "I can say that the posture of the Chinese government levels of cooperation and interaction with us is completely different from what we experienced in 2003 and I want to commend them for such assistance," adding, "But getting WHO, CDC experts on the ground to be able to assist the Chinese experts" is important. WHO had already agreed with Chinese authorities to supply international experts to visit the country "as soon as possible." However, the organization did not offer any additional details.[37]

Congressional testimony and requests for funding

Four weeks later, Azar appeared before the Senate Appropriations Committee to testify on the danger of and responses to the corona virus epidemic. Louisiana Republican Senator John Kennedy asked about the fatality rate in victims and was told it was about the same as the flu, .1%. Kennedy expressed skepticism toward this answer, saying afterwards, "I thought a lot of the briefing was bullshit." "They would answer the question but dodge, bob and weave. I understand there’s a lot they don’t know. I get that. But they need to answer the questions straight up. They all talk about a task force, a committee — a committee’s not going to solve this problem." Trump's officials tried to allay concerns that their request for $2.5 billion was insufficient to address the epidemic. Some Republicans joined Democrats in criticizing the funds requested and found transparency lacking with regard to a coherent strategy to contain the virus as it reaches U.S. soil. Another Republican, Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby from Alabama, told Azar "If you lowball something like this, you'll pay for it later."[38][39] On February 26, Trump at a rare news conference, said that Vice President Mike Pence would be coordinating the administration's efforts to combat the virus, a decision that Azar only became aware of moments earlier.[40] The next day Pence said Deborah L. Birx, the leader of U.S. efforts that fight worldwide HIV/AIDS around the world, was becoming the “White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator,” the third person to be put in charge of the response to the pandemic.[40] Pennsylvania Democratic Congressman Brendan Boyle asked Azar how he could defend "draconian cuts" in the CDC budget “at the same time we are facing a unique worldwide health crisis."[40] Two years earlier, a coalition of global health organizations opposed Trump's plans to reduce the CDC's operations in 39 of 49 countries in which it had been helping to rapidly identify and suppress outbreaks of diseases. The coalition wrote to Azar, contending,"These programs are essential to our national defense."[40]

Coronavirus vaccine

Azar argued that the pharmaceutical industry is best poised to discover, manufacture, and market a vaccine for coronavirus. When asked about the cost of vaccines, Azar responded that the price may be high, but that this will ultimately deliver an important vaccine, even if many Americans cannot afford it.[41]

Personal life

Azar is an Eastern Orthodox Christian. He is from an Iranian family and lives in Indianapolis with his wife and two children.[42][43] Azar served for two years on the board of HMS Holdings.[44] He is currently on the board of the American Council on Germany, where he is Chairman of the Strategic Planning Committee; and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.[13]

He has previously served on the board of directors of the Healthcare Leadership Council, where he was Treasurer; the National Association of Manufacturers; and the Indianapolis International Airport Authority, where he was Chairman of the Human Resources Committee.[13]

Azar is a Republican and has contributed to the campaigns of Mike Pence, Mitch McConnell, Orrin Hatch, Lamar Alexander, Jeb Bush, and Donald Trump according to the Center for Responsive Politics.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ Dixon, Kim (November 20, 2017). "HHS nominee Azar made millions working for drugmaker Lilly". Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  2. ^ "PN430 - Nomination of Alex Azar II for Department of Health and Human Services, 109th Congress (2005-2006)". U.S. Congress. July 22, 2005.
  3. ^ Delkic, Melina (November 13, 2017). "Who is Alex Azar? Trump's New HHS Secretary Pick Lobbied for Big Pharma". Newsweek. Retrieved January 25, 2018. In a press release announcing his departure in 2007, Azar said of his time in the administration ...
  4. ^ "'Only in America': Trump nominates Salisbury's Azar for top Cabinet post". Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  5. ^ "Obituary of ZARISKY, Sarah L. (Lamb), Cambria County, PA". www.camgenpa.com. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  6. ^ "Secretary Azar Remarks at Enthronement of Archbishop Elpidophoros". The National Herald. June 25, 2019. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g Groppe, Maureen (November 13, 2017). "Who is Alex Azar? Former drugmaker CEO and HHS official nominated to head agency". USA Today. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  8. ^ "Biography of Alex Michael Azar II, Deputy Secretary". United States Department of Health & Human Services. June 19, 2006. Archived from the original on February 6, 2007. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  9. ^ Aviv, Diana (October 21, 2005). "Faculty Biographies - 3rd Annual Washington Healthcare Summit" (PDF). American Bar Association. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  10. ^ Mystal, Elie. "Could HHS Secretary Alex Azar Derail Brett Kavanaugh?". Above The Law. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  11. ^ a b Risen, James (September 13, 1994). "Starr Names His First Whitewater Aides: Investigation: Independent counsel announces appointments to fill out prosecution team. He names a Fiske holdover as a top deputy". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  12. ^ Schmidt, Susan (September 13, 1994). "Whitewater Counsel Assembles Team". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  13. ^ a b c "Alex M. Azar II - Biography". World Congress.
  14. ^ "PN492 - Nomination of Alex Azar II for Department of Health and Human Services, 107th Congress (2001-2002)". United States Congress. August 3, 2001.
  15. ^ "Presidential Nomination: Alex Michael Azar". November 2, 2002. Archived from the original on November 2, 2002. Retrieved July 7, 2018.
  16. ^ "PN430 - Nomination of Alex Azar II for Department of Health and Human Services, 109th Congress (2005-2006)". United States Congress. July 22, 2005.
  17. ^ "Presidential Nomination: Alex Michael Azar". November 22, 2006. Archived from the original on November 22, 2006. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  18. ^ "Azar resigns as HHS deputy secretary". BioCentury. January 17, 2007.(subscription required)
  19. ^ a b Mathis-Lilley, Ben (November 13, 2017). "Trump Health Secretary Nominee Left Job Overseeing Eli Lilly Investigation to Become Eli Lilly's Top Lobbyist". Slate.
  20. ^ a b "Lilly Announces Changes in Senior Management" (Press release). PRNewswire. October 11, 2011.
  21. ^ a b Nisen, Max (November 13, 2017). "Alex Azar Is a Friend to Health-Care Companies". Bloomberg L.P.
  22. ^ a b Vazquez, Maegan (November 13, 2017). "Trump picks former pharma exec, ex-Bush official to lead HHS department". CNN.
  23. ^ "Lilly to Adjust Organization and Leadership Structure to Better Align with Growth Opportunities" (Press release). PRNewswire. January 5, 2017.
  24. ^ a b Mangan, Dan (November 13, 2017). "Trump nominates former drug company executive Alex Azar as next Health and Human Services secretary". CNBC.
  25. ^ "What people are saying about Trump's pick of former Lilly exec Alex Azar to lead HHS". USA Today. November 13, 2017.
  26. ^ Advocacy Groups Slam Azar Ahead of Committee Hearing, HEALTHCAREDIVE, David Lim, January 4, 2018. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  27. ^ HHS SECRETARY ALEX AZAR ONCE DOUBLED THE PRICE OF INSULIN. NOW HE WANTS THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO IMPORT CHEAPER DRUGS FROM CANADA, Newsweek, Alexandra Hutzler, July 31, 2019. Retrieved February 28, 2020.]
  28. ^ "Senate Confirms Trump Nominee Alex Azar as Health Secretary". January 24, 2018. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  29. ^ Meet HHS Secretary Alex Azar, the Official Chairing the Coronavirus Task Force, Time Magazine, Tessa Berenson, February 27, 2020. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  30. ^ Mangan, Dan (January 29, 2018). "Alex Azar sworn in as Trump's new health-care chief". www.cnbc.com. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  31. ^ "There's a New Health Secretary. What Will He Mean for Women's Health?". Time. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  32. ^ "Trump's New Health and Human Services Secretary Is a Joyful Regulator". The New York Times. May 18, 2018. Retrieved May 19, 2018.
  33. ^ What the best public health minds know — and don’t know — about Wuhan coronavirus, Politico, Joanne Kenen, January 28, 2020. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  34. ^ a b c d Whistleblower Feds helping evacuees lacked virus protection], Washington Post, Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar (AP), February 27, 2020. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  35. ^ Coronavirus updates: WHO increases risk to 'very high,' tells governments to 'wake up', USA Today, Adrianna Rodriguez, February 28, 2020. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  36. ^ Sen. Ron Wyden asks HHS how agency employees are tested for coronavirus, Axios, Orion Rummler, February 28, 2020. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
  37. ^ HHS chief: No plans to declare public health emergency over coronavirus, The Hill, Nathaniel Weixel, January 28, 2020. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  38. ^ Coronavirus triggers swift bipartisan backlash against Trump, Politico, Rachel Roubein and Alice Miranda Ollstein, February 25, 2020. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  39. ^ Coronavirus’s spread in U.S. is ‘inevitable,’ CDC warns, Washington Post, Erica Werner,  Yasmeen Abutaleb, Lena H. Sun and Lenny Bernstein , February 25, 2020. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  40. ^ a b c d Trump says he can bring in coronavirus experts quickly. The experts say it's not that simple, Washington Post, Beth Reinhard, Emma Brown and Neena Satija February 27, 2020. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
  41. ^ https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-administration-says-coronavirus-vaccine-may-not-be-affordable-2020-2
  42. ^ Delkic, Melina (November 13, 2017). "Who is Alex Azar? Trump's New HHS Secretary Pick Lobbied for Big Pharma". Newsweek.
  43. ^ Azar, Secretary Alex (January 18, 2019). "Great to join my fellow Orthodox Christians at the #MarchForLife, including His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon, Primate of the Orthodox Church in America.pic.twitter.com/TyOchzAdWo". @SecAzar. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  44. ^ Braun, Stephen (November 20, 2017). "Health secretary nominee reaped big earnings from drug industry tenure". Stat News. Associated Press. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
Legal offices
Preceded by
Harriet S. Rabb
 General Counsel of the United States Department of Health and Human Services
2001–2005 		Succeeded by
Daniel Meron
Political offices
Preceded by United States Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services
2005–2007 		Succeeded by
Preceded by United States Secretary of Health and Human Services
2018–present 		Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byas Secretary of Labor Order of Precedence of the United States
as Secretary of Health and Human Services 		Succeeded by
U.S. presidential line of succession
Preceded byas Secretary of Labor 12th in line
as Secretary of Health and Human Services 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alex_Azar&oldid=943243454"