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It will be known before the end of the year whether or not there is a safe and effective vaccine against the coronavirus, the leading US infectious disease specialist said.
Dr. Anthony Fauci predicted that such knowledge could arrive in late November or early December.
However, he warned that there would not be enough doses to vaccinate everyone before 2021.
His comments come amid reports that plans are being made for front-line healthcare personnel in the UK to receive a Covid-19 vaccine in a few weeks.
Appearing on the BBC’s Andrew Marr show, Dr. Fauci was asked if claims by the President of the United States, Donald Trump, that a Covid-19 vaccine, while not a guarantee, will arrive before the end of the year , they were true.
Dr. Fauci responded: “We will know if a vaccine is safe and effective by the end of November, beginning of December.
“The question is, once you have a safe and effective vaccine, or more than one, how can you get it to the people who need it as soon as possible?
“The number of doses that will be available in December will certainly not be enough to vaccinate everyone, it will have to wait several months until 2021.”
He said healthcare workers are likely to be prioritized first for any vaccine, as well as people considered to be at higher risk for complications.
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“We will know if a vaccine is safe and effective in late November, early December.”
Dr. Anthony Fauci, US Government Scientist #Mar Once a Covid-19 vaccine is available, the challenge will be to distribute it to those who need it https://t.co/KgSEipzrUB pic.twitter.com/kkay0Y6mQm
– BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) October 25, 2020
Dr. Fauci added: “That could start late this year, early January, February, March next year.
“When you talk about vaccinating a substantial proportion of the population, so that it can have a significant impact on the dynamics of the outbreak, it is very likely that this will not happen in the second or third trimester.
Dr. Fauci expressed concern that “anti-science” sentiment could have an effect on vaccine acceptance.
He told the Andrew Marr Show: “One of the things that worries me in the United States is that some of the anti-science perhaps translates to anti-vaccine.
“It would really be a shame if we had a safe and effective vaccine, but a substantial proportion of people don’t want to get vaccinated because they don’t trust the authority.”
“That would be really unfortunate if that’s the case.”
The Tánaiste @LeoVaradkar He says the government is “increasingly optimistic” that it will be possible to start vaccinating those most at risk “in the first half, if not the first quarter of next year.” @thisweekrte # COVID-19
– Mary Regan (@MaryERegan) October 25, 2020
Dr. Fauci said a possible coronavirus vaccine, coupled with public health measures, could help move the United States toward “some form of normalcy” next year.
He said: “I think when we get a vaccine and we start vaccinating people … over a period of several months until 2021, we will start to get closer to some form of normality, depending on how many people, what proportion of the people, take the vaccine.
“That should be combined with some degree of public health measures.
“I don’t think a vaccine alone will immediately bring us back to normal.
“What I do foresee is that with a successful vaccine and the continuation of some kind of public health measures, as we move forward and further into the months of 2021, approaching the third and fourth quarters, we will see considerable focus towards some forms of normality “.
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