General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsOperation Warp Speed promised a flood of covid vaccines. Instead, states are expecting a trickle
Federal officials have slashed the amount of coronavirus vaccine they plan to ship to states in December because of constraints on supply, sending local officials into a scramble to adjust vaccination plans and highlighting how early promises of a vast stockpile before the end of 2020 have fallen short.
Instead of the delivery of 300 million or so doses of vaccine immediately after emergency-use approval and before the end of 2020 as the Trump administration had originally promised, current plans call for availability of around a tenth of that, or 35 to 40 million doses.
Two vaccines, from manufacturers Pfizer and Moderna, which both use a novel form of mRNA to help trigger immune response, are on the verge of winning Food and Drug Administration clearance this month. Approval would cap an unprecedented sprint by government and drug companies to develop, test and manufacture a defense against the worst pandemic in a century part of the Operation Warp Speed initiative that promised six companies advance purchase orders totaling $9.3 billion.
As planning accelerated for distributing supplies, the government began to further lower expectations. To make sure supplies dont run out and leave some people only partially immunized, the government said it would stagger deliveries to ensure that states have enough supply for the second shot, required 21 days later for the Pfizer vaccine, which is expected to be first to gain approval.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/trumps-operation-warp-speed-promised-a-flood-of-covid-vaccines-instead-states-are-expecting-a-trickle/ar-BB1bFaVG?li=BBnb7Kz
Initech
(100,108 posts)LisaL
(44,974 posts)We were told vaccines were being made and stored before the approval was granted, so all people will be quickly vaccinated after the approval.
I guess that wasn't accurate. We have nowhere near enough vaccines.
ProfessorGAC
(65,251 posts)Pfizer is forecasting 1 billion doses during 2021.
Scale up & securing raw materials is not all that simple.
I spent a good portion of my career figuring out ways to make 25,000 gallon system act like the 3 liter flask did.
The current scale up efforts are already in the remarkable range.
csziggy
(34,139 posts)Even if Pfizer,and each of the other pharmaceutical companies produced a billion doses, that might be enough. The world population is 9.9 billion - with two doses required, that means almost 20 billion doses.
I have not read how many doses the other companies are hoping to produce or in what time frame so it might be all that bad, but same as everyone, I just want this to be over so people can stop dying and life will be more normal.
ProfessorGAC
(65,251 posts)Or about what the US & UK need.
Also, that billion is current forecast of production capability.
My experience suggests they would be in negotiation for other certified manufacturers to make doses under contract to Pfizer.
In addition, there are three likely candidates in short order. The numbers start to accumulate quickly.
I have to admit I don't understand the fascination with looking for the dark cloud around the silver lining.
Haven't the last 9 months been plenty of dark cloud?
csziggy
(34,139 posts)There are a lot of countries that you are leaving out!
ProfessorGAC
(65,251 posts)Of course you do. Pfizer has contracts to supply with the US & UK.
Right now they have a legal obligation to prioritize customers already under contract.
And, there are 10 other vaccines being worked on.
And, you ignored the manufacturing reality of 3rd party capacity expansion.
Not one thing I said suggests I care only about those countries.
But, I'm not going to further engage someone whose first resort is insults and fabrication.
Tanuki
(14,924 posts)Your general point still stands.
https://www.prb.org/2020-world-population-data-sheet/
...."The world population is projected to reach 9.9 billion by 2050, an increase of more than 25% from the current 2020 population of 7.8 billion."....(more)
csziggy
(34,139 posts)ProfessorGAC
(65,251 posts)This article doesn't mention that.
They negotiated a promise of money IF their vaccine didn't succeed and they needed to ramp up to make someone else's formula. But, that's not what happened.
They did get a promise of cash to streamline distribution, I & when their vaccine worked. It's not clear they've gotten any of that money either
Pfizer told Warp Speed "No thanks" months ago.
I'm not sure that Moderna took development money. But, I recall them taking money to ramp up supply chain.
So, the notion, as stated in the article, that Warp Speed should be considered a success, seems quite premature.
The two best candidates were developed without any involvement from Warp Speed.
KentuckyWoman
(6,697 posts)They are not the issues. Pie in the sky promises from Trump have always been a problem.
He's nothing more than the pitchman who used to pull up into town with his traveling show - a "midget", fat woman, 2 headed snake, and a 100 proof cureall.
tanyev
(42,637 posts)Shermann
(7,455 posts)underpants
(182,951 posts)Hes completely screwed up several parts of this already so I wont be surprised if he had a hand in screwing this up too.
brooklynite
(94,794 posts)The linked HHS report did NOT say that 300 million doses (enough for half the population) would be available by now. It said the FIRST doses would be available now.
Jersey Devil
(9,875 posts)Trump is the 21st Century Professor Harold Hill.
NRaleighLiberal
(60,026 posts)Midnight Writer
(21,819 posts)I guess our pay to play private health care system can't keep up.
MichMan
(12,000 posts)Demsrule86
(68,715 posts)MichMan
(12,000 posts)Demsrule86
(68,715 posts)in the way. His stupidity is only exceeded by his maliciousness.