Preserving the Scientific Integrity of Getting to COVID-19 Vaccines: From Clinical Trials to Public Allocation
A Johns Hopkins University + 天美影视传媒 Symposium
October 6, 2020 · 10:30 a.m. – 1:45 p.m. PT · 1:30 – 4:45 p.m. ET
Watch the recording below
For specific segments, see the Schedule below.

There are now more than 33 million confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide and the death toll of the global pandemic is nearing 1 million. The United States remains the most affected country, with more than 7 million diagnosed COVID-19 infections and upwards of 200,000 deaths to date. The pandemic has also had enormous social and economic impacts globally, and continues to challenge families, communities, health systems, and virtually every aspect of society.
Efforts to develop COVID-19 vaccines are well underway, and protecting the scientific integrity of the process is paramount. The trials must be鈥攁nd must be seen to be鈥攆ree of political interference, carried out with the highest scientific and ethical rigor, and allowed to proceed until the safety and efficacy of each candidate vaccine has been thoroughly assessed. The ultimate goal is global distribution of and equitable access to effective vaccines that can help slow, and eventually end, the pandemic.
With this backdrop, Johns Hopkins University and the 天美影视传媒 are bringing together leading experts to explore these issues and put forward a concise plan for protecting the scientific integrity of these lifesaving efforts. 鈥淧reserving the Scientific Integrity of Getting to COVID-19 Vaccines: From Clinical Trials to Public Allocation鈥 will feature insights from global leaders in vaccine science, health metrics, policy, regulation, and communications.
This virtual symposium will focus on several key areas:
- The science behind COVID-19 vaccine-efficacy trials
- Essential elements of protecting scientific integrity
- Frameworks for assessing vaccine safety and efficacy, including emergency use authorizations (EUAs)
- Ethical aspects of COVID-19 trials
- Ensuring trials are inclusive, diverse, and allow for assessment of highly affected communities
- Vaccine access and allocation in the U.S. and globally
Schedule
Opening Remarks ()
- Michael R. Bloomberg, Founder, Bloomberg LP and Bloomberg Philanthropies, 108th Mayor of New York City
Welcome Remarks ()
- Dr. Ana Mari Cauce, PhD, President, 天美影视传媒
- Ronald J. Daniels, JD, LLM, President, Johns Hopkins University
Session 1: The Science and Structure of the U.S. Government鈥檚 COVID-19 Vaccine Trial Program ()
Chairs
- Dr. Ana Mari Cauce, PhD, President, 天美影视传媒
- Ronald J. Daniels, JD, LLM, President, Johns Hopkins University
Speakers
- Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, MD, Director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
- Dr. Moncef Slaoui, PhD, Chief Advisor, Operation Warp Speed
Moderator Remarks
- Dr. Chris Beyrer, MD, MPH, Desmond M. Tutu Professor of Public Health and Human Rights, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Session 2: Protecting Scientific Integrity in the Design and Conduct of COVID-19 Vaccine Efficacy Trials ()
Chairs
- Dr. Keith Jerome, MD, PhD, Professor and Head of Virology Division, 天美影视传媒 School of Medicine
- Dr. Ruth Karron, MD, Professor and Director, Johns Hopkins Vaccine Initiative, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Speaker
- Dr. Larry Corey, MD, Professor of Medicine and Laboratory Medicine, 天美影视传媒 School of Medicine
Panelists
- Dr. Michele Andrasik, PhD, Clinical Affiliate Professor, Departments of Global Health and Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, 天美影视传媒 School of Public Health
- Dr. Larry Corey, MD, Professor of Medicine and Laboratory Medicine, 天美影视传媒 School of Medicine
- Dr. Joseph Millum, PhD, Bioethicist, Clinical Center Department of Bioethics and Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health
Moderator Remarks
- Dr. Chris Beyrer, MD, MPH, Desmond M. Tutu Professor of Public Health and Human Rights, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Session 3: Regulatory Integrity and the Assessment of Vaccine Safety and Efficacy ()
Chairs
- Dr. Kathleen Neuzil, MD, MPH, Director, Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine
- Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein, MD, Vice Dean for Public Health Practice and Community Engagement, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Speaker
- Dr. Peter Marks, MD, PhD, Director, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Panelists
- Dr. Scott Gottlieb, MD, Former FDA Commissioner (2017 鈥 2019)
- Dr. Peter Marks, MD, PhD, Director, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Moderator Remarks
- Dr. Chris Beyrer, MD, MPH, Desmond M. Tutu Professor of Public Health and Human Rights, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Session 4: Integrity in Communications: Trials Outcomes and the Public ()
Chair
- Dr. Tom Inglesby, MD, Director, Center for Health Security, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Panelists
- Apoorva Mandavilli, Journalist, The New York Times
- Will Stone, Journalist, NPR
- Sarah Zhang, Journalist, The Atlantic
Moderator Remarks
- Dr. Chris Beyrer, MD, MPH, Desmond M. Tutu Professor of Public Health and Human Rights, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Session 5: Integrity and Recommendations for Access, Allocation and Use ()
Chairs
- Dr. Ruth R. Faden, PhD, MPH, Founder, Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
- Dr. Helene Gayle, MD, MPH, Co-Chair, Committee on Equitable Allocation of Vaccine for the Novel Coronavirus, The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Panelists
- Dr. Nancy M. Bennett, MD, Director, Center for Community Health and Prevention, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
- Dr. William Moss, MD, MPH, Executive Director, International Vaccine Access Center, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
- Dr. Christopher Murray, MD, Director, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation and Chair, Dept. of Health Metrics Sciences, 天美影视传媒 and UW School of Medicine
Introduction ()
- Dr. Ellen J. MacKenzie, PhD, ScM, Dean, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Symposium Summary ()
- Dr. Francis S. Collins, MD, PhD, Director, National Institutes of Health
Closing Remarks ()
- Dr. Ellen J. MacKenzie, PhD, ScM, Dean, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health