As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to escalate across the United States, with record-breaking daily cases, hospitalizations, and fatalities, there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon. An experimental vaccine against the virus has been submitted to the FDA for emergency use authorization, and another is on the way. Officials from Operation Warp Speed, the U.S. government’s initiative for vaccine development, have indicated that the first group of Americans could start receiving the vaccine as early as December 11.
Dr. Alex Thompson, leading Operation Warp Speed, appeared on several news programs over the weekend, including NBC’s Meet the Press and ABC’s This Week, to share updates on the potential rollout of the vaccine. An FDA advisory committee is set to convene on December 10, and Thompson mentioned that plans to distribute the vaccine are in place for the following day once emergency use authorization is granted. “We aim to ship vaccines to distribution sites within 24 hours of approval. So, I anticipate that by December 11 or 12, we could see the first immunizations happening across the country,” he stated in an interview with CNN.
At present, the Pfizer vaccine is approved for individuals aged 12 and older, but Thompson cautioned that the FDA might increase the minimum age to 16 as part of the emergency use conditions. Currently, no vaccines have been thoroughly tested on children.
Thompson also noted that there won’t be sufficient doses available for everyone at the outset. The initial recipients will include frontline healthcare workers, senior citizens, and individuals with underlying health conditions that increase their risk for severe COVID-19. The U.S. government has committed $1.5 billion to Pfizer for the production and distribution of the vaccine. To achieve a return to “normal” life, it is estimated that about 70% of the population will need to be vaccinated, which could occur by May if public willingness to receive the vaccine remains high.
Additionally, Thompson addressed baseless rumors regarding the timing of vaccine announcements. “I don’t believe any action was taken to intentionally delay the vaccine,” he clarified during an interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos.
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Summary:
As the COVID-19 pandemic worsens, the first American vaccinations could begin as early as December 11, pending FDA approval. Dr. Alex Thompson from Operation Warp Speed outlined the plan for distribution, prioritizing frontline workers and those at higher risk. While initial doses will be limited, achieving a 70% vaccination rate is crucial for a return to normalcy by May.