Good news in the fight against COVID-19 was announced just days before Thanksgiving by Dr. Moncef Slaoui, chief scientific advisor for President Donald Trump’s “Operation Warp Speed” Immunization Program, on Nov. 22. America could reach herd immunity by May 2021, Dr. Slaoui told CNN-TV Sunday morning, if 70% of the U.S. population receives the coronavirus vaccine.
Dr. Slaoui told CNN host Jake Tapper that the achievement of mass immunity is key to Americans returning to “normal life.” He continued: “Normally, with the level of efficacy that we have — 95% — to 70% or so of the population being immunized, would allow for true herd immunity to take place…. That is likely to happen somewhere in the month of May, or something like that, based on our plans.”
Drug manufacturers Pfizer and Moderna have both introduced potential COVID-19 shots with an effectiveness above 90% in initial testing. Pfizer has applied for emergency approval for its vaccine, which could make the shot ready for use in the coming weeks, since the FDA’s Advisory Committee will meet Dec. 10 to consider the application. Slaoui spoke of a similar timeline on CNN-TV. “Our plan is to be able to ship vaccines to the immunization sites within 24 hours of approval,” he said. Slaoui hopes that on Dec. 11 or 12, the first people will be immunized across the United States. President Trump has already announced that the vaccines will be free of charge.The Daily Caller reported that 58% of Americans sampled by a Nov. 17 Gallup poll, said they would take a COVID-19 vaccination if it were available.
Dr. Slaoui said he was committed to decreasing the level of “negative perception” people have about the vaccine and increasing the level of the positive perception. “Most people need to be immunized before we can return to a normal life,” he concluded.
