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Nine of the pharmaceutical companies that develop vaccines for the new coronavirus have committed to respecting the integrity of the scientific process. Compromise comes as the race for a vaccine grows fiercer and pressure from politicians. US President Donald Trump is one of those pushing for a vaccine to be ready before the US presidential election in the first week of November.
In a joint statement, drug manufacturers said they would submit vaccines for approval only after proving their safety and efficacy through “high-quality, large-scale clinical trials.” The companies assured that “the safety and well-being of vaccinated people will always be our top priority.”
The pledge is signed by the CEOs of AstraZeneca, BioNTech, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Moderna, Novavax, Pfizer and Sanofi.
“We believe this commitment will help ensure public confidence in the rigorous scientific and regulatory process by which COVID-19 vaccines are evaluated and eventually approved,” they said.
Political pressure for the rapid introduction of a vaccine is growing stronger
The unusual initiative comes against the backdrop of concerns that political pressure to launch vaccines quickly could undermine public confidence in them, potentially dissuading people from getting vaccinated, DPA notes, cited by Agerpres.
US President Donald Trump has spoken about the possibility of receiving a vaccine before the November presidential election, but it is unclear if scientists will be sure of the effectiveness and safety of the doses by then. Companies around the world have accelerated their vaccine research efforts.
Trump said he was confident the United States could begin distributing a COVID-19 vaccine in “late October.” At an election event attended by hundreds of people on the runway at Pennsylvania’s Latrobe Airport, Trump reiterated his promise that the United States would receive “a safe and effective vaccine in record time.”
“I do not trust Donald Trump. There must be a reliable source of information on the efficacy and reliability of such a vaccine. I will not take his word,” said Kamala Harris, the Democratic vice presidential candidate.
An “irresponsible anti-vaccine rhetoric” that “endangers lives” and “discredits science,” denounced Donald Trump, who, at a press conference at the White House, defended himself against accusations that he makes the vaccine a campaign argument, according to Kamala Harris.
Governments are eager to limit the coronavirus pandemic and allow it to return to normal after quarantine and physical distancing measures have affected billions of people.
Publisher: AD
