Washington – U.S. Rep John Katko says doctors at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse who helped develop Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine deserve to be honored with a Congressional Gold Medal.
Katko, R-Camillus, introduced a bipartisan bill today that would award Congress’ highest honor to the local doctors as well as other researchers who developed Covid vaccines in record time.
The bill was co-sponsored by Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill., in the House, and introduced in the Senate by U.S. Sens. Chris Coons, a Democrat from Delaware, and Rep. Roy Blunt, a Republican from Missouri.
Dr. Stephen Thomas, an infectious disease specialist at Upstate, served as lead principal investigator worldwide for the clinical trials of the vaccine developed by drugmakers Pfizer and BioNTech.
The vaccine was found to be more than 90 percent effective, better than expected.
Upstate Medical University was among 150 sites worldwide where the vaccine was given to volunteers in clinical trials. Upstate also served as one of 60 research centers in the United States to conduct clinical trials of Pfizer’s vaccine with children.
“Because of this work, our nation was able to develop safe and effective Covid-19 vaccines in record time,” Katko said. “The pandemic has proven to be one of the greatest challenges our nation has ever faced. The individuals who helped develop Covid-19 vaccines that are now saving lives and putting our nation on the road to recovery are well deserving of this high honor.”
The legislation must be co-sponsored by at least two-thirds of the House and 67 senators to advance. Congress has awarded fewer than 200 Congressional Gold Medals in the nation’s history. The first was awarded to George Washington by the Continental Congress.
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