Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Stephen Hahn is suggesting he is not so sure he can provide a timeline for when a vaccine for the coronavirus will become available to the nation.
Appearing on ABC’s “This Week” Hahn was asked by host Martha Raddatz if President Donald Trump’s claim a vaccine will be available “long before the end of the year” is accurate.
Hahn responded with uncertainty of when Americans will see a vaccine become available.
“I can’t predict when a vaccine will be available,” Hahn said.
Check out his comments below:
NEW: FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn stops short of backing Pres. Trump's timeline suggesting a COVID-19 vaccine could be available “long before the end of the year," telling @MarthaRaddatz, "I can't predict when a vaccine will be available." https://t.co/7UJnu9cnQl pic.twitter.com/dUTXeEoBCO
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) July 5, 2020
Hahn went on to acknowledge the “unprecedented speed” of the development of the vaccine.
He explained the FDA’s role in the development of a vaccine and how the organization is committed to the safety of the American people.
“We want to be very clear, our solemn promise to the American people is that we will make a decision based upon the data and science on a vaccine with respect to the safety and effectiveness of that vaccine,” Hahn said.
He added, “That’s something that’s an FDA core responsibility when those data become available and I hope those data are available sooner rather than later. ”
The coronavirus pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the nation. As of Sunday afternoon, there are more than 2.8 million coronavirus cases in the United States alone and nearly 130,000 deaths.
According to a CNN poll, a third of Americans say they will not get a COVID-19 vaccine even if it becomes available, as IJR previously reported.
During an interview with CNN on June 29, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and member of the White House coronavirus task force, said if enough Americans refuse to get a vaccine, the United States will not achieve “herd immunity.”
Testifying before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee on June 30, Fauci said he is “aspirationally hopeful” a coronavirus vaccine will be available by the beginning of 2021.
