The White House held an Operation Warp Speed “Vaccine Summit” on Dec. 8, to announce the latest on the development, production, and distribution of vaccines and therapeutics. In his opening remarks, President Donald Trump lauded the vaccine producers for creating an effective vaccine with extraordinary speed: “We’re hopeful that the FDA will authorize the Pfizer vaccine within days.... And the Moderna vaccine almost immediately thereafter.” He plans to prioritize vaccinations for the elderly, those with underlying conditions, and healthcare workers and first responders. Partnerships have been reached with CVS and Walgreens to deliver vaccines directly to nursing homes. FedEx, UPS, and McKesson stand ready to provide the logistical support needed to distribute millions of vaccines. “It will end the pandemic,” Trump joyously proclaimed.
Trump’s current pinned tweet contrasts clips from throughout 2020 of “experts” saying that it was “preposterous” to have a vaccine by the end of the year, that it would take “12 to 18 months, or longer,” and that Trump’s year-end goal was “partisan wonderland” with the excellent success OWS has achieved.
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1336394251354124289
While vaccines prevent illness, treatments are required for those who do get infected. Antibody treatments (like that supplied to President Trump himself) are in the pipeline. Trump enthused: “American companies were the first to produce a verifiably safe and effective vaccine. Together, we will defeat the virus, and we will soon end the pandemic, and we will save millions and millions of lives, both in our country and all over the world.”
As far as “all over the world” goes, other countries are going to have to get in line: Trump signed an executive order stating the policy that international access to “United States Government Covid-19 Vaccines” (those developed in the U.S. or purchased by the U.S. government) will be available only after there exists a sufficient supply to vaccinate all Americans who choose to be vaccinated. As National Security Advisor Robert C. O’Brien put it: “After all Americans have been afforded the opportunity to be vaccinated, the United States will facilitate Covid-19 vaccine access to the international community for our allies, partners, and others.” (It could certainly be argued that offering doses for the elderly and healthcare workers in other countries might be a useful act of goodwill, even if it means a delay in vaccinating young Americans without preexisting conditions.)
This is only the briefest summary of the multi-hour event — look for more coverage in the days to come.
