President Trump & the CDC disagree on coronavirus vaccine rollout
President Trump and the CDC are clashing on the timing for a COVID-19 vaccine to be released for the general public.
Video transcript
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ROBERT REDFIELD: I think there will be a vaccine that initially will be available sometime between November and December, but very limited supply and will have to be prioritized. If you're asking me, when is it going to be generally available to the American public so we can begin to take advantage of vaccine to get back to our regular life, I think we're probably looking at third-- late second quarter, third quarter, 2021.
DONALD TRUMP: We're on track to deliver and distribute the vaccine in a very, very safe and effective manner. We think we can start sometime in October. So as soon as it is announced, we'll be able to start. That will be from mid-October on. May be a little bit later than that, but we'll be all set.
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I think he misunderstood the questions. But I'm telling you, here's the bottom line-- distribution is going to be very rapid. He may not know that. Maybe he's not aware of that.
- In terms of realistic timelines, we're really not expecting to see widespread vaccination until middle of next year.
DONALD TRUMP: 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.
- How long does it usually take-- this should be my last question, Mr. Chairman-- to develop a vaccine?
ROBERT REDFIELD: The capacities prior was two years, and usually four to six years.
- Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
