U.S. reveals rapid rollout plan for vaccine after record coronavirus surge

[webfact]

U.S. reveals rapid rollout plan for vaccine after record coronavirus surge

By Doina Chiacu

 

FILE PHOTO: A health worker provides a COVID-19 test at a drive-through testing site, as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues to spread, in Staten Island, New York, U.S. November 25, 2020. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. officials on Monday unveiled details of their plan to distribute COVID-19 vaccines to millions of Americans starting later this month, as the United States again broke records for new coronavirus infections and hospitalizations.

 

With outgoing President Donald Trump's coronavirus strategy relying heavily on a vaccine, the chief adviser of his administration's Operation Warp Speed program said on Tuesday that 20 million people could be vaccinated by the end of 2020, and that by the middle of 2021 most Americans will have access to highly effective vaccines.

 

"Within 24 hours, maybe at most 36 to 48 hours, from the approval, the vaccine can be in people's arms," Moncef Slaoui, a former GlaxoSmithKline executive, said at an event conducted by The Washington Post newspaper.

 

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the leading U.S. infectious disease expert, said on Tuesday that recent holiday travel and gatherings will likely lead to "a surge upon a surge" of coronavirus cases in the United States.

 

The virus infected 4.36 million more people in November, more than doubling the number of new cases the previous month, as many Americans refused to wear masks and traveled for holiday gatherings against the recommendations of health experts.

 

Some 60 million to 70 million doses could be available per month beginning in January, after the expected approval of vaccines from Pfizer Inc and Moderna Inc, Slaoui said.

 

A Food and Drug Administration panel of outside advisers will meet on Dec. 10 to discuss whether to recommend that the FDA authorize emergency use of the Pfizer vaccine. They are expected to review Moderna's candidate a week later.

 

The U.S. Transportation Department said on Tuesday it has made preparations to enable the "immediate mass shipment" of COVID-19 vaccines and completed all necessary regulatory measures.

 

First in line for vaccinations could be about 21 million healthcare workers and 3 million residents in long-term care facilities, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said.

 

A CDC advisory panel is due to vote on Tuesday on recommendations for which Americans should get the vaccine first. The CDC will take the recommendation into account and provide guidance to the states to assist governors in their decisions about vaccine distribution priorities.

 

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday complained about the lack of federal funding for vaccine distribution. He also criticized a data-sharing agreement put forward by the government that he said could "dissuade undocumented immigrants from taking the vaccine."

 

Cuomo expressed concern that data on those receiving the vaccine could end up in the hands of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

 

'TRAGICALLY FAMILIAR PATTERN'

Meanwhile, leading health officials are pleading with Americans to follow their recommendations to help arrest a pandemic that killed more than 37,000 people in the United States in November alone.

 

A record of nearly 96,000 COVID-19 patients were in hospitals on Tuesday, according to a Reuters tally.

 

Officials are concerned about the strain on healthcare systems and overworked providers with hospitalization and deaths expected to spike after millions traveled for Thanksgiving last week and with the Christmas holiday season fast approaching.

 

U.S. COVID-19 deaths are projected to nearly double in December to a pandemic-high of more than 70,000 and climb to over 76,000 in January before ebbing in February, according to a widely cited model from the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.

 

The monthly U.S. record of 58,740 COVID-19 deaths was set in April.

 

The pandemic and restrictions meant to stop it have ravaged the U.S. economy.

 

A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers on Tuesday unveiled a $908 billion COVID-19 relief bill aimed at breaking a monthslong deadlock between Democrats and Republicans over new emergency assistance for small businesses, unemployed people and industries.

 

U.S. nursing homes are experiencing the worst outbreak of weekly coronavirus cases since the spring, according to the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL), which represents more than 14,000 nursing homes and assisted living facilities in the country.

 

New York City is seeing a "marked increase" in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations, with hospitals reporting more than 1,100 COVID-19 patients - double the number from less than three weeks ago and the most since early June, Health Commissioner Dr. Dave Chokshi told a news conference on Tuesday.

 

Chokshi said he is issuing a "commissioner's notice" urging at-risk New Yorkers to stop non-essential activities and stay in as much as possible as the city battles its second coronavirus wave.

 

"This escalation unfortunately follows a tragically familiar pattern - cases grow, hospitalizations follow," Chokshi said. "And, sadly, too many result in critical illness or even death."

 

(Reporting by Doina Chiacu, Lisa Shumaker, Maria Caspani, Peter Szekely, Jonathan Allen, David Shepardson and Julie Steenhuysen; Writing by Daniel Trotta; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Bill Berkrot)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-12-02

 

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[mr mr]

thank you donald trump for this wonderful parting gift.

[Tug]

1 hour ago, mr mr said:

thank you donald trump for this wonderful parting gift.

Ahhh that’s no gift it’s part of the job description of being potus but hey at least soon there will be competent leadership in place that will supervise the process and be smart enough to stay out of the way

[mtls2005]

4 minutes ago, Tug said:

Ahhh that’s no gift it’s part of the job description of being potus but hey at least soon there will be competent leadership in place that will supervise the process and be smart enough to stay out of the way

 

Agreed. Evidently anything above golf is considered a "gift"?

 

If he remained in office he'd demand that his name be put on each vial/syringe.

 

 

[ChouDoufu]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

U.S. officials on Monday unveiled details of their plan to distribute COVID-19 vaccines to millions of Americans starting later this month

 

does that include new york?  how about swing states that don't flip their election results? 

 

 

Trump says coronavirus vaccine won’t be delivered to New York right away

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/13/trump-says-coronavirus-vaccine-wont-be-delivered-to-new-york.html

[Dumbastheycome]

Such a shame the upcoming availability and distribution will probably suffer as much interference  by Trump and Co. as they can inflict as retribution. I doubt the US will have a Merry Christmas this  year!

[mtls2005]

3 minutes ago, Dumbastheycome said:

Such a shame the upcoming availability and distribution will probably suffer as much interference  by Trump and Co. as they can inflict as retribution. I doubt the US will have a Merry Christmas this  year!

 

He does seem to be going for the "scorched earth" look this holiday season?

 

By now I think everyone understands his narcisisstic pathology, and that he really only cares about one person. Ok, maybe two with Ivanka.

 

 

 

 

[Scott]

Off-topic, troll posts removed.  

 

[placeholder]

4 hours ago, mr mr said:

thank you donald trump for this wonderful parting gift.

Who but Donald Trump would have thought of creating a vaccine for a viral disease?

Especially for a disease whose seriousness he questioned. 

[Saltire]

Will Americans have to pay for this vaccine? How much, or is it dependant on insurance (which many apparently do not have)?

 

No mention of who pays and how much.

[Surelynot]

The trouble is......... America is full of swivel-eyed loons who believe the anti-vaxxers (along with Trumpism, QAnon, Infowars etc).

 

There will be (genuine) reports of deaths after taking the vaccine.....statistically there have got to be dozens I would imagine....the Americans will go hysterical and the take up could be so low as to be ineffective.

 

 

[onthedarkside]

8 minutes ago, Saltire said:

Will Americans have to pay for this vaccine? How much, or is it dependant on insurance (which many apparently do not have)?

 

No mention of who pays and how much.

 

In theory at least, it appears that a lot of Americans are supposed to be able to get the CV vaccines that may be approved by the government at little or no cost...  But it will be interesting to see how that plays out in the real world.

 

https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/issue-brief/vaccine-coverage-pricing-and-reimbursement-in-the-u-s/

 

[mtls2005]

12 minutes ago, Saltire said:

Will Americans have to pay for this vaccine? How much, or is it dependant on insurance (which many apparently do not have)?

 

No mention of who pays and how much.

 

Bit of a patchwork: Medicare part B, Medicaid/CHIP, Private Insurance: Yes, covered or free,

 

Tens of millions others? Meh.

 

Seens some talk about actually paying people to take the vaccine to increase uptake.

[Surelynot]

1 minute ago, mtls2005 said:

Seens some talk about actually paying people to take the vaccine to increase uptake.

I can see it coming to that....if not...the whole thing could be a waste of time and money.

[mr mr]

7 hours ago, Tug said:

Ahhh that’s no gift it’s part of the job description of being potus but hey at least soon there will be competent leadership in place that will supervise the process and be smart enough to stay out of the way

 

ahhhhh come on sarcasm ? i imagine she will handle the situation with grace and strength.

[pegman]

A vaccine has been approved in the U.K. People may start to receive it as early as Dec 6. Hopefully the beginning of the end with this scrooge.

 

 

Edited December 3, 2020 by onthedarkside
link to Daily Mail removed, non-credible source

[Stargeezr]

I think the USA should be considered a toxic country for 2 more years, as it will take about that long for all the anti vaxers and anti maskers etc to die off after catching the virus and continuing to spread it until they all expire.  Good bye red neckers.  Yes I am being sarcastic.

 

I just do not plan to visit the USA for at least 4 or 5 years. Been there enuff times to see almost all the sights that I wanted to except in Florida, where I would like to go to NASAs launch area, and buy space toys, and models.

Geezer

[Scott]

Off-topic post removed.  

 

[Iron Tongue]

Actually, distribution of Pfizer vaccine began on Nov 17th to some states.  Other states are working-out distribution of special freezers to keep vaccine at needed -74 C.  Innoculations to first two groups (medicos and senior citizens homes) will be free.

[placeholder]

Wednesday, Dec 2, 2020, a record number of daily Covid deaths reported in the USA

Coronavirus in the U.S.: Latest Map and Case Count - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

[onthedarkside]

Quote

The United States set two disturbing records on Wednesday: More than 200,000 new coronavirus infections were reported nationwide, and 100,000 covid-19 patients were hospitalized with the virus. Many fear the staggering caseload could grow even worse in coming weeks, as the nation registers the impact of Thanksgiving gatherings.

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/12/03/coronavirus-covid-live-updates-us/

 

 

Quote

 

Experts are bracing for another wave of new cases and hospitalizations connected to Thanksgiving travel. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield said Wednesday that the next three months could be the “most difficult time in the public health history of this nation.” He said the coronavirus death toll could reach 450,000 by February.
 

In an effort to increase compliance with public health guidelines, the CDC on Wednesday updated its recommendations for post-exposure quarantine from the standard 14 days to 10 or even seven days. The longer 14-day quarantine period reflects the virus’s long incubation period before symptoms appear. But the CDC said the shorter quarantine period would still cover the vast majority of infections while boosting adherence to public health recommendations and improving participation in contact tracing.

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/britain-pfizer-coronavirus-vaccine/2020/12/02/90f7276e-3470-11eb-9699-00d311f13d2d_story.html

 

[JWRC]

As much as I dislike Trump, I feel that  when people don't follow the recommendations, then to some extent you get what you get .It's the same in the UK, Brazil and other places. They refuse to wear Masks, ignore social distancing, they travel for holidays and congregate and so the virus is just going around and getting passed on. You can't blame the government leaders for all this, people have to be responsible and do their bit.

[simple1]

1 hour ago, JWRC said:

As much as I dislike Trump, I feel that  when people don't follow the recommendations, then to some extent you get what you get .It's the same in the UK, Brazil and other places. They refuse to wear Masks, ignore social distancing, they travel for holidays and congregate and so the virus is just going around and getting passed on. You can't blame the government leaders for all this, people have to be responsible and do their bit.

It has been trump who has been the conspiracist in chief in the US concerning Covid-19 mitigation practices. trump has even gone so far to countermand his scientific Covid task force recommendations, via tweets, for self serving political purposes e.g.

 

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-18/usa-protests-for-coronavirus-reopening-after-donald-trump-tweet/12160930

 

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

1 hour ago, JWRC said:

As much as I dislike Trump, I feel that  when people don't follow the recommendations, then to some extent you get what you get .It's the same in the UK, Brazil and other places. They refuse to wear Masks, ignore social distancing, they travel for holidays and congregate and so the virus is just going around and getting passed on. You can't blame the government leaders for all this, people have to be responsible and do their bit.

 

People CAN and SHOULD blame world leaders such as Trump when THEY are the ones responsible for rejecting consensus public health advice designed to protect citizens from the virus, while also encouraging their followers and allies to flout and reject that same advice.