US surgeon general Jerome Adams called on states to prepare for Covid-19 vaccine distribution as early as November 1.
"We've always said that we are hopeful for a vaccine by the end of this year or the beginning of next year," the US surgeon general said. "That said, it's not just about having a vaccine that is safe and effective — it's about being ready to distribute it,” he stressed.
According to a letter obtained by McClatchy, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's director, Robert Redfield, also requested state governments and health departments to remove certain permit requirements to accelerate the setup of distribution sites as early as November.
"The normal time required to obtain these permits presents a significant barrier to the success of this urgent public health program," Redfield stated in the August 27 letter.
Three of six coronavirus vaccine candidates being developed in the US have already entered their third and final phase of human testing. US Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Stephen Hahn said in an interview with the Financial Times recently that the FDA would give an emergency use authorization even before phase 3 trials have been completed.
While there are reports saying Trump is pressuring health officials to come up with a Covid-19 vaccine before Election Day, Adams told ABC News that politics has nothing to do with speeding up the process since the independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board will be conducting the next steps.
"What people need to understand is we have what are called data safety monitoring boards that blind the data, so it won't be possible to actually move forward unless this independent board thinks that there is good evidence that these vaccines are efficacious," Adams noted.
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said that the deadline for setting up coronavirus vaccine distribution sites is not linked to the presidential elections.
Public health experts and scientists are concerned that the approval of a vaccine will be politically motivated and that regulators are being pressured by the White House to come up with a vaccine ahead of the US election on November 3.
“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,” HHS Secretary Alex Azar said Thursday 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.”
He noted that “career people at CDC” came up with the deadline, proving that political appointees such as himself were not involved.
A group of drugmakers will release a statement that promises safety of bringing a coronavirus vaccine to the market.
The public statement of the drugmakers will pledge that they will not ask for government approval until enough data has been gathered to ensure the safety and efficacy of treatments, according to a CNBC report.
The Wall Street Journal reported that an early draft of the joint statement focuses on the safety of vaccinated people. The Journal mentioned that Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, and Moderna are expected to join the pledge. CNBC said that Sanofi also plans to join other drugmakers.
