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CHICAGO (Reuters) – If all goes well, the first doses of a safe and effective coronavirus vaccine will likely be available to some high-risk Americans in late December or early January, said Dr. Anthony Fauci, the leading expert. in U.S. infectious diseases on Thursday.
Based on current projections from vaccine pioneers Moderna Inc
“We expect the first tentative look (at the trial results) to be within the next few weeks,” he said.
Both companies began the final stage of clinical trials in late July with tens of thousands of people participating in each trial.
Moderna said Thursday that it was on track to release provisional data from its big last-stage test next month.
Pfizer, which was expected to release interim data in October, is unlikely to release data before November, likely after the US presidential election.
The data will then need to be reviewed by the US Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who will make recommendations on who gets the first doses if the trials are successful.
In practical terms, Fauci said, the first doses of vaccine are likely to be distributed to those deemed most in need “by late December or early January.”
Fauci’s comments were part of a conversation with Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, who answered questions from listeners.
Even with an effective vaccine to protect against the virus, Fauci said it will take time to return to something that approaches normal as vaccine-induced immunity develops both nationally and globally. He said life likely won’t return to normal “at least until the end of 2021.”
Meanwhile, Collins urged Americans to be prepared to continue wearing masks and maintain social distancing.
“I know Americans are tired of these measures. Tired of wearing masks. Tired of not being able to congregate,” Collins said. “But we still have a long way to go.”
(Reporting by Julie Steenhuysen; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
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