WTTV CBS4Indy WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Friday that he’s hopeful to have a coronavirus vaccine on the market by the end of the year or shortly thereafter.
Moncep Slaoui, a former pharmaceutical executive who Trump has tapped to serve as the administration’s virus czar, said that early trial data suggests that “a few hundred million doses of vaccine” will be delivered by late 2020.
Trump, speaking at a Rose Garden event Friday, reiterated that he wants to see states move forward with reopening their economies.
“We are back, vaccine or no vaccine,” Trump said. “We are back.”
Trump named Slauoui, a former pharmaceutical executive, to lead his administration’s all-out effort to produce and distribute a coronavirus vaccine. It’s called “Operation Warp Speed.” Slaoui will serve in a volunteer capacity, and will be assisted by Army Gen. Gustave Perna, the commander of United States Army Materiel Command.
The move comes as the president and White House aides hope to produce vaccines for the coronavirus faster than what many scientists believe is realistic. The administration is aiming to have 300 million doses to distribute to Americans by the end of the year, believing a reliable vaccine is the only way to promote an economic rebound.
“Operation Warp Speed” is operating largely independently of the existing White House coronavirus task force, which is also shifting its focus toward vaccine development.
The initiative is being promoted by White House senior adviser Jared Kushner, and involves officials from the Defense Department and the Department of Health and Human Services.
A mandatory, fast-tracked vaccine administered by the military. What could go wrong?