A coronavirus vaccine will not be ready before the US election, according to White House health advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci.
Dr. Fauci's comment comes after the Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC) urges states to prepare the distribution facilities by November 1.
Dr. Fauci told the audience of Research! America 2020 National Health Research Forum that it is more likely a coronavirus vaccine will be available by “the end of the year” as drug manufacturers Moderna and Pfizer race to fulfill patient enrollment for their late-stage clinical trials by the end of September.
“It’s unlikely we’ll have a definitive answer” by the US election, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said during the health conference.
His statements do not match President Donald Trump's. Trump said at a press conference Monday that a Covid-19 vaccine could be ready for distribution by Election Day.
“We could have a vaccine soon, maybe even before a very special day. You know what day I’m talking about,” Trump said.
Infectious disease experts and scientists are concerned about the impact of political pressure on the coronavirus vaccine approval process in the US.
Distribution
The CDC called on governors and health departments to prepare for coronavirus vaccine distribution as soon as November 1, two days before the election.
Dr. Stephen Hahn, the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, said the agency is willing to bypass the federal approval procedure in order to have a vaccine available as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, nine drugmakers issued a public letter promising to “uphold the integrity of the scientific process” as they work toward potential regulatory filings and approvals of the first coronavirus vaccines.
“We saw it critical to come out and reiterate our commitment,” Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said during an interview with NBC’s “TODAY” on Tuesday. “We will develop our product, develop our vaccine using the highest ethical standards.”
Not about politics
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar attempted to ease concerns about the review process, saying the government’s November 1 deadline for states has nothing to do with the presidential election.
“It has nothing to do with elections. This has to do with delivering safe, effective vaccines to the American people as quickly as possible and saving people’s lives,” Azar said on “CBS This Morning.” “Whether it’s Oct. 15, whether it’s Nov. 1, whether it’s Nov 15, it’s all about saving lives but meeting the FDA standards of safety and efficacy.”
Dr. Moncef Slaoui, who heads the Trump administration’s Operation War Speed initiative, said that a vaccine's availability in November is “extremely unlikely.”
According to the FDA, it would authorize a Covid-19 vaccine if it has been proven safe and at least 50% effective. The flu vaccine lessens the risk of getting influenza by 40% to 60% compared with people who are not inoculated, the CDC said. Hahn stressed the FDA would not authorize a vaccine that is not safe, even if it appears fairly effective.
Dr. Fauci previously said that the Data and Safety Monitoring Board, an independent group of medical experts, will review the data from clinical trials. He noted that he “wouldn’t be surprised” if the US came up with more than one vaccine.
