Birx praises A&M’s low COVID rates, vaccine manufacturing
White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator Dr. Deborah L. Birx visited Texas A&M University on Tuesday, praising the college for its low COVID-19 positivity rate and its efforts to manufacture a vaccine.
Birx, who wore a mask throughout the afternoon press conference, said seeing A&M’s progress at its vaccine production facility was “reassuring.” She praised A&M’s “forward-leaning behavior” and its efforts to take on vaccine development, revealing that the plan is to vaccinate the most vulnerable populations as soon as possible.
Because of this “once we have the vaccine, (college) presidents really need to plan for their spring semester to look similar to their fall semester,” Birx said.
Much related to the vaccine is still to be determined, she added.
Despite those unknowns, Birx, who met with A&M and community leadership Tuesday and visited classrooms to see the college’s set-up amid COVID-19, said she felt encouraged.
Birx said A&M, which reported more than 570 positive cases this month and a 10 percent positivity rate, has one of the “lowest infection rates that we’ve seen.”
She emphasized that she was impressed to see A&M students prioritizing the health of others, their deep understanding of the populations most at risk of COVID-19, and the need to social distance, wear masks and upkeep hygiene.
“I’m moved by the administration, the students and the community who have been working together since March and April to realize this goal,” Birx said.
Her A&M visit followed dozens of visits to colleges around the country, including a tour of Baylor University in Waco on Monday. She praised the private Baptist college’s efforts to combat COVID-19 and its performance of contact tracing, according to reports from KXXV Channel 25.
Baylor reported 72 active COVID-19 cases on Sept. 21 — a sharp decline from the 603 active positive cases reported on Sept. 3.
The goal of Birx’s tour of colleges around the country is to compile all that she’s learned and determine the “secret sauce” needed to open schools and keep them open through the spring. Partnerships for contract tracing, testing and spaces for isolation and quarantine have been crucial, she said she has determined. And important plans on how to further support students’ academics, mental health, and access to food and medication have also been vital.
Birx said she’s confident that these colleges’ work will help prepare them for future issues concerning health, including flu season and preventing transmission.
“There are things we’ll take away from this,” she said.
The work, however, continues, said Birx, who encouraged more testing on campuses, even after the A&M System inked a deal earlier this year to deliver 15,000 tests to its 11 institutions each month.
“Until we have a vaccine, really learning from students and leadership of how to protect each other, that is a message we’ll try to take across the country,” Birx said.
She concluded the press conference, encouraging Texas A&M to “keep it up.”
“We’ll make it to Thanksgiving together,” she said.