COVID: US vaccine chief Slaoui sees ‘light at end of the tunnel’

NEW YORK: Moncef Slaoui said he hoped the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) could give the go-ahead to a vaccine when it meets this week.

But for life to get back to normal by spring, Americans still needed to follow safety measures, he added. The US has seen record infections in recent days, with a daily death toll of more than 2,000.

The latest surge in cases is putting strain on hospitals, with large parts of the state of California set to enter new lockdown restrictions on Sunday. States are also preparing to distribute a vaccine, with possible approval approaching. The FDA is meeting to discuss the UK-approved vaccine, made by Pfizer, on Thursday and will discuss approval of a second vaccine, made by Moderna, on 17 December.

Dr Slaoui heads up Operation Warp Speed, the US government’s programme to rapidly produce and delivery Covid-19 vaccines. “Based on the data that I know, I expect the FDA to make a positive decision. But of course, it’s their decision,” he said. “The first vaccine shipment will happen on the day after the vaccine is approved.”

The UK will begin its the largest-ever vaccine rollout on Tuesday, after approving the Pfizer vaccine last week. Once FDA approval has been granted in the US, the vaccine is expected to be made available first to the country’s million healthcare workers and three million elderly people living in long-term care homes. It is up to states to decide which groups should be prioritised next.