Top U.S. health officials visit with Texas A&M leaders and students, tour vaccine facility on campus

Two high ranking U.S. health officials met Monday with Texas A&M University President Michael K. Young, several top administrators and four students to discuss innovations and issues related to COVID-19.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary Eric Hargan and U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams also visited Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies, a large-scale vaccine manufacturing facility on the Texas A&M campus.

Hargan and Adams, who are touring multiple sites around Texas, said Americans are on the cusp of having a safe and effective vaccine, but need to continue to try and slow the spread of the virus that has taken more than 200,000 lives in the U.S. Both officials also urged everyone to get a flu vaccine soon.

Public health was at the forefront of all their conversations, including at the Center for Innovation in Advanced Development and Manufacturing at Texas A&M Health and later at a roundtable discussion with university leadership, students and U.S. Rep. Bill Flores, R-Bryan.

Students who took part in the conversation included Yarielka Arrieta Batista, who is working on her master of public health; Andy Castro, a doctoral student at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Science who also is earning a master’s degree in public health; Jordan Garcia, a doctor of medicine candidate; and Mackenzie Miller, who is studying nursing.

This story originally appeared on Texas A&M Today.