Major Push Underway To Get A Coronavirus Vaccine To Americans

CHARLOTTE — In a news conference Friday, President Trump said there will be at least 100 million vaccine doses available to Americans before the end of 2020.

Tonight, companies are working overtime to find a vaccine that works.  The United States is nearing a grim milestone.  Nearly 200-thousand people have died from COVID-19.  Health officials are worried that number could soar even higher.

President Trump touted ‘Operation Warp Speed’.  It’s an effort to find a vaccine immediately.

“We’ll have manufactured at least 100 million vaccine doses before the end of the year, and likely much more than that. Hundreds of millions of doses will be available every month. and we expect to have enough vaccines for every American by April,” says President Trump.

This week, the President said a vaccine would be ready by next month, or by Election Day.  But, the country’s top health leaders aren’t as optimistic.

There are three vaccines in the final stage of clinical trials.

“There’s 3 major phases in each clinical trial, and each of those usually take a few months or several months,” says Dr. Martez Prince with Premier Pharmacy and Wellness Center.  “With the collection of those 3 phases, it could be years or decades before a vaccine is truly put out there and deemed to be safe and effective for the general public,” says Prince.

Charlotte’s Tryon Medical Partners has tested more than 400 patients for a vaccine manufactured by Moderna.  Patients receive two rounds of medication and half of them receive a placebo.  The clinic is still looking for people to participate in the trial, particularly African Americans and Latinos.  But, health officials say many people are skeptical.

“It is important for us to be apart of those trials so we can understand. Vaccines can react differently with different gene pools,” says Prince.
“But, I understand, I would be leery of joining a trial at this point just do to the fact that the safety and effectiveness which is usually done pre clinical trials it was only done for probably weeks, he says.

Prince also says he’s noticed many of his patients aren’t getting the flu vaccine this year because of safety concerns.  He says it is important to get the flu shot to reduce your chances of getting sick.