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Summary
- The US expects to start vaccinating residents by 11th-12th December according to the head of Operation Warp Speed, Moncef Slaoui.
- 70% immunization could allow the country to achieve herd immunity. Mr Slaoni believes it is possible by May though NIAID Director, Anthony Fauci thinks otherwise.
- BioNTech and Pfizer have requested an Emergency Use Authorization from the US FDA for their vaccine candidate; the decision could take up to three weeks.
After the deadly COVID-19 pandemic hit the world, all eyes moved to how soon will there be a vaccine for the fatal virus, SARS-CoV-2. Speculations started building regarding the same, and we are already beyond the initial deadline set for September 2020. However, things have begun to look positive as vaccine makers are posting positive results and countries are planning for vaccination process to begin.
In the latest development, Moncef Slaoui, the head of the federal government’s Operation Warp Speed said that the US is expected to begin vaccinations against COVID-19 in less than three weeks. This means that the process of immunizing first people across all states will commence around 11 December 2020.
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A 70% immunization rate across the US by around May is also part of the plan, which could allow for herd immunity to take place according to Mr Slaoni. The US government's top infectious disease specialist Anthony Fauci said that it was possible to achieve herd immunity if a sufficient number of people receive the vaccine; however, he did not think it was possible by May.
The race to COVID-19 vaccination is not only to make people safe but also to ensure people develop immunity before life returns to normal. The wide distribution of an effective vaccine in 2021 might not be as easy as it sounds, and various hurdles are expected in the process.
Lately, BioNTech and Pfizer have requested an emergency authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration for their vaccine, but the process is expected to take weeks. Stephen Hahn, FDA Commissioner on Twitter, said that although the time taken by FDA in reviewing the vaccine cannot be predicted, yet the agency shall assess the request as expeditiously as possible. Moreover, in doing so, the evaluation shall go through a thorough, science-based manner to present a vaccine that the American people ought to have as quickly as practicable.
It has been a year since the first case of COVID-19 was detected, and people seem desperate to return to normal. However, there has been a significant amount of carelessness also from the general public in avoiding COVID-19, despite rising cases and the governments raising alarms to follow the guidelines.
For several reasons like these, countries have started witnessing significant repercussions like the second wave of COVID-19 and intense restrictions. It is imperative that countries across the globe begin the vaccination process as soon as an effective vaccine is in the market.
