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United States President Donald Trump recently announced that 2 million doses of a coronavirus vaccine are presently “ready to go.” The president says all that is needed now is an assurance from scientists that the vaccination drugs are safe for Americans to use.
President Trump explained to a group of reporters who gathered at the White House recently that the necessary logistics and transportation are presently in place to deliver the vaccination drugs to Americans. The inference by the president is that vaccinations can begin as soon as the appropriate organizations give the go-ahead.
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Dr. Anthony Faucci is an advisor for the White House and is working directly with the effort to produce a coronavirus vaccination for Americans. Dr. Faucci declined to comment when asked about the recent statements made by the president. The doctor would only express that he did not hear the comments made by Trump.
Reporters were also unsuccessful at soliciting comment from a White House spokesperson tasked with answering the phone. The spokesperson referred callers to seek answers from the Department of Health and Human Services. However, the HHS directed callers to the White House once again. In the end, no answers were given by either entity.
Trump went further with the announcement saying that many people are going to be surprised when they discover the amount of progress that has been made.
One major media publication reported earlier that five companies were being considered for the task of producing a vaccine. However, Trump did not specify during his recent announcement if one of these five companies is responsible for the 2 million doses he says are presently available for Americans.
The biotech company Moderna is presently working hand in hand with the National Institute of Health in an effort to produce a preventative drug for coronavirus. Dr. Fauci explained recently that he is personally involved with four projects that are presently in the trial stages of development. At the time he made these statements, Fauci was also quoted as saying he hoped to see a “couple million” doses of vaccination drugs available by 2021.
The current pandemic has encouraged researchers and officials in the United States to work double-time in hopes of providing vaccination possibilities for the coronavirus. The accelerated development attempts have included multiple research stages despite the fact safety concerns could render much of the work pointless.
A few scientists working to come up with a solution for the coronavirus has expressed hope for vaccination in the first half of next year. However, during Trump’s recent comments he asserted that officials in the United States understand the deadly virus “now.”
Scientists have countered the president’s point by explaining there are still key elements pertaining to the disease that is not yet understood. One key issue is a lack of understanding of how the immune system responds following contact with this novel coronavirus. This is an important factor in the search for a drug that will provide protection for individuals and guard against transfer between members of a family.
Fauci expressed concerns about the durability of the vaccinations he hopes to soon see for COVID-19. Fauci says it is possible that drugs that are effective now will not prove effective over the longterm. Fauci continued by explaining that vaccinations for COVID-19 will not provide longterm immunity if the virus acts like other coronaviruses.
The White House advisor explains that the period of immunity for other coronaviruses is from three to six months. Dr. Fauci says it is rare for this immunity to last for a complete year. He concluded that much more protection and immunity are needed than may be available at this time.
