Federal authorities have informed the states of the United States of America that they should prepare to distribute the vaccine against the coronavirus by November 1.
That deadline caused concern among health experts that there might not be an "October surprise", that is, approval of the vaccine for political, not scientific reasons, ahead of the presidential elections in November, according to the AP agency.
The director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Robert Redfield, said in a letter addressed to the governors of the US states that they will receive applications for licenses to distribute vaccines "in the near future".
Redfield asked the federal governments to prepare conditions for the distribution of vaccines and be ready by November 1. The letter, which the AP agency had access to, was dated August 27.
Redfield told Yahoo Finance that officials are preparing for what he expects to be a reality, which is that one or more vaccines will be available in the US in November or December.
Although several vaccines are in the phase of clinical trials, it is not certain that one of them will be really effective and safe, but the authorities are already preparing for possible distribution in order to receive them in precious time, according to the Agence France-Presse.
The president of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials said the CDC is offering an "aggressive but necessary schedule" but that public health agencies are mobilizing to prepare detailed plans.
Several vaccine and public health experts have indicated that the final stages of experimental vaccine trials are still underway and are at best only halfway through the process. Vaccines are given in two doses, one month apart.
Several experts told the AP they don't understand how there can be adequate data on whether vaccines work and are safe until Nov. 1.
"Being prepared is reasonable. Shortening a phase three trial before the necessary information is available is not," said Dr. Paul Offitt, an immunization expert at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia who is also on the FDA's vaccine advisory board. .
University of Minnesota infectious disease expert Michael Osterholm says he's worried there won't be an "October surprise" with a vaccine being rolled out quickly ahead of the November presidential election.
"The public health community wants a safe and effective vaccine as much as anyone else. But the data must be clear that the vaccine is effective and that it is safe," he said.
Some US states indicated they are working on next steps while still awaiting details from the CDC.
New Mexico State Human Resources Secretary David Scraze said the state is preparing to give coronavirus vaccines on a limited basis starting in November to health care workers and residents of nursing or nursing homes. The vaccine for the general public is planned for January.
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