Dr. Robert R. Redfield, the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, had told senators that even if a vaccine were available now, vaccinating enough Americans for widespread immunity could take six to nine months. He estimated that one could be available for limited use by the end of the year, and for wider distribution by the middle of 2021.
During the Senate hearing, Dr. Redfield also said that masks are “the most important, powerful public health tool we have” in fighting the pandemic.
President Donald Trump claimed Wednesday that a Covid-19 vaccine could be ready to distribute as early as mid-October — hours after the head of the CDC testified it likely wouldn't be ready until the end of the year and Joe Biden voiced concerns that Trump was putting politics ahead of safety.
In testimony before the Senate, CDC head Robert Redfield said a vaccine would take “six to nine” months to get every American vaccinated and predicted a return to “regular life” by late next year.
Biden said Wednesday that he doesn’t trust Trump to safely oversee the federal government’s approval and distribution of a Covid-19 vaccine.
