Despite some states already having been asked to formulate COVID-19 vaccine distribution plans, doctors suggest the public should think twice about getting the potential vaccine this fall. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have told health officials across the U.S to prepare these plans by late October.
What We Know:
- Accordingly to countless reports by health experts, many say an effective and safe vaccine won’t realistically be available until early 2021. Though in recent developments, it’s possible the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) could push out emergency authorization for vaccine distribution even before phase 3 trials are over, should data be convincing enough. The obvious dilemma here is many doctors would rather have the vaccine go through the full FDA approval process and not rush it.
- Peter Hotez, Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, is on the side of these doctors by stating “how can you justify a substandard or lesser review for something that would be injected in tens of millions, maybe hundreds of millions of Americans?”
- As of Thursday, there are currently three COVID-19 vaccines in the U.S in phase 3 trials, and officials have been adamant about making sure no vaccine will be distributed to the population until it’s been proven safe and effective. Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has implied that this will certainly not be likely by the late October timeframe.
“If you look at the projection, of the enrollment (of trial participants) and the kinds of things you’ll need to get a decision about whether the vaccine is safe and effective, most of us project that that’s going to be by November, December, by the end of the year,” Fauci told CNN on Thursday.
- With Labor Day weekend upon us, Fauci also gave a warning to the American public to be more responsible compared to the past couple of holidays since the pandemic began. “We don’t want to see a repeat of the surges that we have seen following other holiday weekends,” he said.
- This message remains the same as before, practicing social distancing, wearing face masks, avoiding large crowds, and keeping gatherings outside. Several states encountered considerable spikes of hospitalizations and deaths after holidays such as Memorial Day and Fourth of July. Respecting guidelines now more than ever will help for the fall.
The same health experts that heed rushing a COVID-19 vaccine also are considering its effects for the remainder of the year. The coronavirus pandemic combined with flu season could prove to be another strain for the medical system. The CDC estimates between 140,000 to 810,000 Americans are hospitalized with the flu each year alone.
