I hope you saw my latest weekly column.

 

ROGER WICKER: Operation Warp Speed produced scientific miracle in record time
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Americans received uplifting news recently in our fight against the
coronavirus. Two American drug companies, Pfizer and Moderna, announced that
their newly developed COVID-19 vaccines were highly successful in late clinical
trials and are safe for use. Pfizer’s vaccine was 95 percent effective in
producing immunity against the virus, and Moderna’s vaccine posted a similar
success rate of 94.5 percent. These results are the clearest signs yet that
Congress’s multi-billion dollar investment in vaccines this year is paying off.
Americans can be encouraged that victory against this virus may finally be on
the horizon.

 

Vaccine distribution should start by December

 

As clinical trials reach the finish line, drug companies are going ahead with
mass-production of their vaccines so they can be deployed quickly if approved.
Moderna, for example, is ramping up production and is ready to begin shipping
vaccines immediately once the FDA issues an emergency authorization. Pfizer has
set up a massive distribution network and says it can deliver vaccines anywhere
in the U.S. within days. Meanwhile, four other drug makers are making steady
progress through clinical trials and expect to distribute their vaccines early
next year. One of those vaccines, developed by AstraZeneca in England, shows
the potential to be 90 percent effective.

 

The federal government has agreed to purchase hundreds of millions of vaccine
doses, which Americans will receive free of charge. States will receive the
vaccine in proportion to their population, and state governments will be
allowed to prioritize which groups are vaccinated first. The Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that frontline health care
workers and first responders be immunized first, followed by the elderly and
those with preexisting conditions. Health experts estimate most Americans will
receive the vaccine by June of next year.

 

Government harnessed the power of private innovation

 

Vaccines normally take years to develop, go through clinical trials, receive
FDA approval, and become available to the public. These COVID-19 vaccines were
produced in record time because of Operation Warp Speed, a public-private
partnership devised by the Trump Administration and funded by Congress. In
March, Congress passed legislation to invest billions in vaccine research and
development, streamline the approval process, and pre-purchase millions of
vaccine doses.

 

As a result of Operation Warp Speed, the U.S. government will own the first
100 million doses of the Moderna vaccine as well as the first 100 million doses
of the Pfizer vaccine. Officials estimate there will be enough doses to
immunize 20 million American adults by the end of 2020, and at least 25 million
more each month after that. Vaccinations will be made available at major drug
stores, pharmacies, and shopping centers. I am pushing Congress to provide
additional funding to help states prepare for and manage vaccine distribution.

 

These COVID-19 vaccines are a triumph of American ingenuity and scientific
genius. They are a testament to what our nation can accomplish when we work
together to meet an urgent need. But even as we celebrate, we cannot let our
guard down. In recent weeks we have seen a spike in coronavirus cases, with
deaths and hospitalizations reaching new highs. Until the vaccines are approved
and widely distributed to the general public, we all need to keep taking health
precautions to slow the spread of the virus – wearing masks, standing six feet
apart, and washing hands frequently. Taking these steps, even with the end in
sight, can save lives.

 

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Thank you for your support,

Senator Roger Wicker

 

 

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