President Donald Trump is giving Americans a better idea of when they could expect to have widespread access to a coronavirus vaccine.
During his press briefing on Friday, Trump revealed there would be enough doses of a vaccine for every American by early next year.
“As soon a vaccine is approved, the administration will deliver it to the American people immediately. Distribution will begin within 24 hours after notice,” Trump said.
According to Trump, at least 100 million vaccine doses will be manufactured by the end of the year and “likely much more than that.”
Watch his remarks below:
President Trump: "As soon a vaccine is approved the administration will deliver it to the American people immediately. Distribution will begin within 24 hours after notice…We expect to have enough vaccine's for every American by April."
— CSPAN (@cspan) September 18, 2020
Full video here: https://t.co/VKOZqEPmKN pic.twitter.com/9ZL9kh48r2
He noted, “Hundreds of millions of doses will be available every month, and we expect to have enough vaccines for every American by April.”
Trump added, “The estimates I’m providing today are based on the manufacturing that’s in process, and that’s in process immediately right now.”
Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told a U.S. Congress panel widespread access to a vaccine could come by “late second quarter, third quarter 2021,” as IJR previously reported.
Redfield said a vaccine could be ready by November or December, but the first doses could go to vulnerable populations.
“In order to have enough of us immunized to have immunity, I think it’s going to take six-nine months,” he said.
Redfield gave an example of how masks could be more guaranteed to protect Americans against the coronavirus than a vaccine, as IJR previously reported.
During a press conference at the White House on Wednesday, Trump contradicted Redfield’s claim.
“It’s not more effective by any means than a vaccine,” Trump said.
He argued “masks have problems too.”
A reporter pressed White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany during her briefing on Wednesday on why Trump is sending “mixed messages” on masks.
McEnany replied, “The president has always supported mask-wearing.”