The U.S. government recently signed a $1.95 billion deal with Pfizer for the pre-purchase of 100 million doses of an experimental vaccine candidate.
According to the Washington Post, the vaccine candidate must still secure regulatory approval or authorization that Pfizer projects it may seek as early as October.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, for its part, said its goal is “to begin delivering 300 million doses of safe and effective vaccine to the American people by the end of the year.”
Muna said, “While there may be a breakthrough, it does require a lot of time to see if the vaccine works.”
She said based on the information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other U.S. health officials, the vaccine will not be available until later this year or early next year.
In related news, Covid-19 Task Force Chairman Warren Villagomez said there are more than 40,000 test kits left. “We are always making sure that we have enough stock on hand while we secure additional resources to make sure that we will not be short on supply,” he added.
He said the CNMI is “still competing with the entire world” in getting these and other items.
Muna said CHCC and the task force continue to conduct community-based tests.
“The goal of the new schedule is to accommodate those individuals that have not been tested and wanted to be tested,” she added.
For more information, go to https://stupefied-booth.160-153-177-131.plesk.page/cnmi-local/73-local/5401-updated-cnmi-community-based-covid-19-testing-initiative-schedule
