Story at a glance
- Operation Warp Speed co-chief Moncef Slaoui said the move by the CDC was an effort to be prepared in case a vaccine proves to be safe and effective sooner than expected.
- “There is a very, very low chance that the trials that are running as we speak could read before the end of October,” Slaoui told NPR Wednesday.
- He said he believes a vaccine would be made available to high risk groups before the end of the year, and to the widespread population by mid-2021.
The chief scientific adviser behind the Trump administration’s initiative to produce a safe and effective coronavirus vaccine says it’s possible “but very unlikely” one will be ready for distribution by the end of October or early November, according to NPR.
Our country is in a historic fight. Add Changing America to your Facebook or Twitter feed to stay on top of the news.
The comment by Operation Warp Speed co-chief Moncef Slaoui comes following reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) asked state governors last week to prepare for large-scale distribution of a vaccine by Nov. 1 as several phase three trials of vaccine candidates are currently underway.
The move sparked speculation that the agency may be under pressure by the Trump administration to approve a vaccine before Election Day.
Slaoui told NPR the move from the CDC was about planning.
“There is a very, very low chance that the trials that are running as we speak could read before the end of October,” Slaoui told NPR Wednesday.
“And therefore, there could be — if all other conditions required for an Emergency Use Authorization are met — an approval. I think it’s extremely unlikely but not impossible. And therefore, it’s the right thing to do, to be prepared in case.”
He emphasized that vaccines would not be introduced before clinical trials are finished and an independent data safety monitoring board looks into the data.
“So the requirements are very high, and there is no intent to file before a demonstration of efficacy and safety in phase three trials,” he said.
During an interview with magazine Science, Slaoui said he would immediately resign from his position if there was any “undue interference” in the vaccine process.
Slaoui said he firmly believes a vaccine will be made available before the year is over to high risk groups, such as people aged 70 and older and health workers on the front lines. He said between 20 and 25 million people could receive a vaccination.
In terms of widespread distribution, he said immunizing the U.S. population as a whole would happen in the middle of 2021.
The former GlaxoSmithKline vaccine executive was named head of Operation Warp Speed in May.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CORONAVIRUS RIGHT NOW
FAUCI ADDRESSES WHY BLACK AMERICANS ARE DISPROPORTIONALLY AFFECTED BY CORONAVIRUS
REPORT HIGHLIGHTS ASIAN AMERICAN DISCRIMINATION AMID CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
I’M A FOREIGN-BORN DOCTOR FIGHTING AMERICA’S WAR AGAINST THE CORONAVIRUS. THE US NEEDS MORE OF US
WOMEN AND THE HIDDEN BURDEN OF THE CORONAVIRUS
CORONAVIRUS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING THROUGH AN AUTISTIC LENS
400,000 CALL ON CONGRESS TO EASE HOUSING CONCERNS FOR AMERICAN FAMILIES IMPACTED BY CORONAVIRUS
Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
