Health officials across the country have been advised that they should expect the coronavirus vaccine to be available to high-risk health workers by November, and the Trump administration is asking states to expedite approval of vaccine distribution sites before the November elections.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention informed health officials that “limited doses of the Covid-19 vaccine may be available by early November 2020,” writes the New York Times. reported…
Meanwhile, CDC Director Robert Redfield wrote to state governors asking them to prepare distribution sites. “The CDC urgently requests your assistance in expediting the filing of applications for these distribution facilities and, if necessary, asks you to consider waiving requirements that will prevent these facilities from fully operational by November 1, 2020,” Redfield wrote: McClatchy reported…
An ambitious timetable, requiring officials to prepare for the vaccine to arrive in time for the November elections, has raised concerns that the Trump administration has politicized the vaccine development process and that the president is seeking to expedite vaccinations before election day.
The top government infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, said he was “cautiously optimistic” about the vaccine by the end of this year, but added that “he would not be satisfied with the vaccine release if we didn’t know it was safe. and efficiently. “
But Trump is playing along with confidence that the vaccine will be available soon. When the CDC began notifying health officials of the possibility last week, Trump told his supporters during a speech at the Republican National Convention, “We provide life-saving therapies and vaccine before the end of the year, or maybe even earlier.”
Healthcare workers, homeland security personnel and other high-risk groups will receive the first round of vaccine as directed by the CDC.
