Watch: Dr. Rick Bright says he was fired because he did not want to expand access to chloroquine

Immunologist Dr. Rick Bright  said Thursday on Capitol Hill that the U.S. lacks a plan to produce and fairly distribute a coronavirus vaccine when it becomes available. The nation could face “the darkest winter in modern history” unless leaders act decisively, he told a congressional panel.

“We don’t have (a vaccine plan) yet, and it is a significant concern, ” he told the Democrat-led House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Bright also alleges he was ousted from a high-level scientific post after warning the Trump administration to prepare for the pandemic.

“I believe part of the removal process for me was initiated because of a pushback that I gave when they asked me to put in place an expanded access protocol that would make chloroquine more freely available to Americans that were not under the close supervision of a physician and may not even be confirmed to be infected with the coronavirus,” he said. 

Committee Chairman  Rep. Anna Eshoo opened the hearing by asking for a moment of silence for the 80,000 Americans who have lost their lives to coronavirus. 

"In a world without sports, this subcommittee has become political sport," said Texas Rep. Michael Burgess, the committee's top Democrat, lamenting the politicization of Bright's testimony. 

"Every whistleblower deserves to be heard," Burgess said. Dr. Bright has raised serious allegations, and they deserve investigation. Whistleblowers must have their rights protected and deserve to have their allegations investigated with policies and procedures that have been long established and upheld as independent and fair."

However, Burgess also called Bright's hearing "premature" and a "disservice" to those fair investigations.