According to information from September 16, 2020, that CNBC (Consumer News and Business Channel) announced, that The U.S. government plans to transport a COVID-19 vaccine distribution sites within 24 hours after the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) grants an emergency authorization or approval.
Potential vaccine that will be used from McKesson company, which is shown as main distributor. “We will move [the vaccine] as fast as possible within a day or so,” – said Paul Ostrowski, who is overseeing logistics for the Trump administration’s Covid-19 vaccine program Operation Warp Speed, said during a press call with reporters.
COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution For Free?
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) in its turn said that do all, to make vaccines for COVID-19 available for free to all Americans, but at first vaccine need to be granted an emergency use authorization before a full formal approval.
CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield said that mostly all guidance (but not all) will overlap with many routine activities for immunizations and pandemic influenza planning. “The plan will be updated as new information becomes available, including Covid-19 vaccine use in pregnant women and in pediatric populations. Vaccine will initially be very limited and will likely go to those most in need, such as health-care workers. The CDC’s goal is to have enough Covid-19 vaccine for all in the United States who wish to be vaccinated,”- Robert Redfield continued.
The CDC said that when larger quantities of vaccine become available, there will be two simultaneous objectives:
- To provide widespread access to vaccination
- To ensure high uptake in target populations, particularly those who are at high risk of death or complications from COVID-19.
Vaccine Will Be Spread In 4 Phases
CDC announced that new vaccine will be spread in 4 phases. First one will contain health-care workers, the elderly and people with underlying health conditions. Second one will be essential workers, teachers and people in homeless shelters as well as people in prisons. Third one – children and forth – young adults.
This information came after President Donald Trump comment about vaccine against the coronavirus, which is three or four weeks away. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading infectious disease expert, has said it’s “conceivable” but unlikely the U.S. will have a safe and effective vaccine by October.
Need to be said that some front-runners in the race are in no hurry to give such accurate estimates. The CEO of Pfizer said at September 13, that a vaccine could be distributed to Americans before the end of the year. “Company should have key data from its late-stage trial for the FDA by the end of October. If the FDA approves the vaccine, the company is prepared to distribute “hundreds of thousands of doses,” said Albert Bourla, CEO of Pfizer.
In this phase can be several vaccines from different manufacturers approved and available. Besides, CDC reminds that some variation of COVID-19 treatment requires two doses at varying intervals that will need to come from the same drugmaker, and some of these applicants need to be kept at cold (Pfizer’s vaccine requires freezers that can store it at approximately 94 degrees below zero).
After the official approval by FDA The U.S. government will determine the amount of vaccine designated to each state or region. Then, only the state will be responsible for managing and approving orders from enrolled providers within their jurisdiction using this allotment.
CDC said that now days various plans, supported by the CARES Act and the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, are under development to ensure no American will be charged out-of-pocket expenses for the administration of the vaccine.
