Dr. Anthony Fauci is regarded as the country’s leading infectious disease expert. He said that he and his team remain “cautiously optimistic” about developing a coronavirus that could be approved by the end of the year.
At a Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee hearing, Fauci said, “We predict that sometime by the end of this year, let’s say November or December, we will know whether or not these are safe and effective.”
“Early studies in animals and in human Phase 1 and Phase 2 indicate that individuals induce a response that is comparable to, if not better, than natural infection,” he added. “Right now, doses of this vaccine are being produced so they’ll be ready to be distributed.”
Fauci emphasized that he has no qualms about receiving a vaccine approved by the FDA saying, “If a vaccine that is shown to be, and proven to be and authorized by the FDA to be safe and effective, I certainly would take that vaccine, and I would recommend to my family that they take this vaccine.”
The doctor said that although having an approved coronavirus vaccine before Election Day “unlikely” it was not “impossible.”
President Trump is confident that a vaccine could be available “during the month of October.” He said earlier this month, “We are an absolute leader in every way. Under my leadership, we’ll produce a vaccine in record time.”
Just this week, Trump praised vaccine efforts by pharmaceutical companies Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, and AstraZeneca. He said Pfizer, especially, was doing “really well.”
Meanwhile, Democratic vice-presidential candidate Kamala Harris is casting doubt on the safety of a vaccine with the Trump stamp of approval.
Earlier this month Harris said, “I will say that I would not trust Donald Trump and it would have to be a credible source of information that talks about the efficacy and the reliability of whatever he’s talking about.”
This dangerous way of thinking could cause thousands to lose their lives.
