Although Operation Warp Speed continues to move rapidly, some people closely involved in the process have raised concerns about the pressure ending up delivering an October surprise for Donald Trump. With the United States locked down, and hospitals overwhelmed earlier this year, the Department of Health and Human Services made a presentation for the White House that suggested developing a coronavirus vaccine was the best hope to control the pandemic.
Considering that it ideally takes years to develop a vaccine, the timetable for d Operation Warp Speed, which was first reported by Bloomberg, was understandably ambitious. With millions of people losing their jobs and tens of thousands succumbing to the virus, the unprecedented crisis required an all-out public-private response, with the administration providing billions of dollars to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, along with logistical support and reducing bureaucratic obstacles.
The scheduled deadline coincided well with Trump's need to quell the virus ahead of the impending election. The race for a vaccine has put the system set up to a never-before-seen test in terms of ensuring safe and effective drugs.
This comes in the middle of a campaign in which the key issue is Trump's handling of the pandemic. The president spent his time in office ignoring science and the federal bureaucracy's expertise.
With the White House constantly pressurizing for good news, and the American people desperate for a vaccine to end the pandemic, the government's researchers are afraid of political intervention in the near future. Moreover, they are struggling to ensure that the government strikes a perfect balance between speed and strict regulation, according to interviews with outside experts, federal scientists, and administration officials.
Even if an environment is less politically charged, there would be a panic-stricken debate about expediting the process of trials and approvals. It is imperative to test vaccines for a long time to ensure they are safe and effective.
With about a thousand people dying every day in the country, schools struggling to reopen, and the deep recession delivering economic pain, there is a powerful desire to return to normal life, which surpasses partisan politics and borders.
Russia announced last week that it is gearing up to start a nationwide inoculation campaign in Oct. with a vaccine that hasn't completed clinical trials yet. This is the latest evidence of what can be touted as a global potential for saving time and money.